Restorative and Alternative Justice (Level 6)

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Professor Sarah Lamble
• Assessment: a 750-word class presentation (20%) and a 3000-word essay or case study analysis (80%)

In this module we introduce you to contemporary debates around restorative and alternative justice. Starting with a theoretical overview of the motivations, principles and values of restorative and transformative justice, we then analyse a number of case studies offering a number of specific empirical examples of practices in context.

Exploring both state-based and non-state-based strategies, we provide a foundation from which to critically assess alternative forms of justice in contrast to conventional state-based ‘law, order and punishment’ strategies. We also provide a theoretically informed, yet empirically grounded, foundation from which to explore the limits and possibilities of restorative and transformative justice policy and practice.

Indicative syllabus

• Why alternative justice? Reviewing the limits of conventional criminal justice
• Working inside and outside ‘the state’: key debates in policy and practice
• Case study 1: Restorative justice for state-level injustices - South Africa
• Case study 2: Indigenous community justice - Nigeria and South America
• Case study 3: Family group conferencing - New Zealand and Australia
• Case study 4: Victim offender mediation - UK
• Case study 5: Sentencing circles - Canada
• Case study 6: Community accountability groups - USA
• Case study 7: Circles of support and accountability - Canada and UK
• Addressing systemic injustice: transformative justice and structural change

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand the key principles, values and practices of restorative and transformative justice
• appreciate the diversity and range of restorative and alternative justice approaches
• be able to identify some of the key challenges and debates in policy and practice around restorative and alternative justice approaches
• be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of state-based and non-state-based alternatives to conventional criminal justice
• appreciate the social, political, historical and economic context of recent trends in restorative and transformative justice
• be able to analyse, evaluate and compare a range of theoretical approaches
• be able to identify strengths, weaknesses, values and limitations in current approaches to restorative justice policy and practice
• appreciate the importance of social and cultural contexts for understanding social policy and practice.