Di Xiaohua is a professor in the Law School of Nanjing University, the head of the  Nanjing University Iinstitute for Crime Prevention and Control, and deputy director of the Legal Psychological Council of the Chinese Psychological Society. He has also been engaged as expert consultant by many judicial departments.

For 20 years, Di Xiaohua has undertaken the integrated study of criminology, criminal psychology, penology, criminal procedure, juvenile courts and criminal law. He has published more than 10 books (both alone and co-authored) and more than 70 papers. For the last 5 years, he has focused on drawing lessons from restorative justice principles in China’s judicial reform.

Working through the Nanjing University Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, Di organized the first International Seminar of Restorative Justice Principles in China, a special training course on restorative justice and established the first restorative justice base in procuratorial (prosecutorial) office. At his suggestion, the Nanjing procuratorate recognized restorative justice principles as an important idea for dealing with minor criminal cases and delinquency. Currently, restorative justice principles are gaining more and more attention in China.

In “Justice and Criminal Conciliation” (2003), Di advised using restorative justice principles and expanding the use of criminal conciliation. Since this publication many scholars have approved his proposal and the study related to it is being developed. 

Important Idea

Restorative justice and Chinese traditional reconciliation both seek to repair social relationships, but differ in ways of realizing this goal. Restorative justice emphasizes that victims should resolve conflicts by communication. Chinese traditional reconciliation, on the other hand, prefers to achieve reconciliation using bridge builders’ resources and technology.

Although the restorative justice principles have some relationship with the customs of western native peoples, it isn’t a simple copy. It is a new justice principle which adapts the development progress of western society. Any modern society must draw on the experience of restorative justice according to one’s own actual conditions.

As a country in the process of establishing rule of law, China can benefit from restorative justice. Firstly, it can help change traditional expectations for severe punishment. Secondly, it points toward formation of a new system to take into account the interests of the government, society and the person. Thirdly, it gives an impetus to the unity of both legal purpose and social purpose in justice.

Leading edge

Di Xiaohua’s current research seeks to contribute to the theoretical study and practical promotion of restorative justice principles in the Chinese criminal justice system.

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