Book Review: The Spiritual Roots of Restorative Justice

Key restorative justice programs have had their roots in religious or spiritual communities. Victim-offender mediation got its North American start thanks to members of the Mennonite community. Circles were adapted from Native American and First Nations practices. Conferencing was derived from the traditions of the Maori people in New Zealand. While these programs have often been "secularized" for use outside those communities, it is useful to reflect on the spiritual roots of restorative justice. That is the subject of a new book, reviewed in this edition.