Special Issue of Youth and Society 33 (December). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISSN: 0044-118x.

Reviewed by Gregory Strong

This special issue of Youth & Society addresses issues of adolescent substance abuse in relation to principles and practices of restorative justice. Cases involving substance-abusing young offenders increasingly occupy the attention and resources of the juvenile justice system. Courts are  increasingly dealing with  more and more  youth problems that would once have been handled by youth agencies and treatment facilities in community settings.

In view of this situation, this special issue seeks to inform academicians and practitioners about the extent of the substance abuse problem, the need for more and better treatment, the response of the justice system, and new approaches to deal with the justice and treatment needs of youthful offenders and their communities. Articles cover a number of matters:

• the effectiveness of adolescent substance abuse treatment models
• juvenile justice in a “get-tough” era
• restorative justice as a theory for informal social control and social support
• restorative justice and a new criminal law of substance abuse
• restorative justice in school communities
• restorative justice and the pro-social communities solution
• community justice
• restorative justice and substance abuse.

Article Summaries:

Bringing justice to adolescent substance abuse treatment

An overview of the effectiveness of adolescent substance abuse treatment models.

Reviving juvenile justice in a get-tough era

Young people, trouble, and crime: Restorative justice as a normative theory of informal social control and social support

Restorative justice and a new criminal law of substance abuse

Restorative justice in school communities

Restorative justice and the Prosocial Communities Solution

In pursuit of community justice: Deschutes County, Oregon.

Restorative justice and substance abuse: The path ahead.

Common ground: Opportunities and possibilities

August  2002