Summary
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This article examines, considers the effects of, and proposes resolutions to a number of significant tensions arising from the way the fundamental concepts of restorative justice are defined and used. The article uses as a framework two key issues. First, whether restorative justice should be defined primarily in terms of the process to be used or the outcomes to be achieved. Secondly, attention will be drawn to the lack of clarity in defining restoration. This article proposes a list of irreducible core values of restorative justice and contends that agreement about these will best advance the theoretical debate, assist the appraisal of restorative justice in practice and prioritise the restoration of victims and the fair treatment of offenders.(author's abstract)
