Overview

Articles discussing restorative justice in prison generally. These will address many of the topics given in this section.

Newell, Tim. Restorative Justice in the prison setting.

Applying the principles of Restorative Justice in a custodial setting call for sensitivity and courage. There are several ways in which it has been applied from restorative programmes - such as conferences and victim offender mediation or therapeutic communities - to partly restorative work such as community work projects and resettlement work. The restorative focus is on those most directly affected by a crime, and RJ’s problem-solving and future-oriented methods make it an ideal complement to the work of prisons, addressing some typical dilemmas of each theory of criminal justice, which are listed in this article. Newell defines the main limitations of prisons that impede their capacity for restorative work and also lists some of the obvious areas for restorative approaches in prisons. The potential for restorative justice in prisons is considerable. It should not be seen primarily as a tool towards reducing recidivism, but as a means towards empowering offenders to take responsibility for their actions and to make amends to their victims and their communities. Guided by RJ, prisons can become true places of healing and transformation for the community as well as those directly affected by crime – victims and offenders.

Biermans, Nadia. Restorative justice and the prison system

For about two years now, Nadia Biermans, along with others, has been trying to apply restorative justice ideas and practices in Flemish prisons. Based on her experiences, in this paper she raises some questions and makes certain observations about restorative justice in the prison system. She begins by explaining how restorative justice in Belgian prisons began and how it is organized. This leads to discussion of the question of whether restorative justice has a place in prison, the issue of educating and persuading the wider public about restorative justice, and successful ingredients for introducing restorative justice in prisons.

Parker, Lynette. Book Review: The Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison

Restorative justice is often implemented in community settings. In this short book, Barb Toews discusses its application when the offender has been imprisoned.

Littlechild, Brian. Conflict resolution, restorative justice, approaches and bullying in young people residential units.

Restorative justice has been an increasing feature in the discourses within adult and youth justice criminal justice systems in recent years. This article examines interpersonal conflicts arising from crime, bullying and antisocial behaviour in residential care, and the advantages and disadvantages of utilising such approaches in relation to these forms of conflict, based upon an evaluation of restorative principles and approaches from the perspectives of young people, residential workers and managers. The article sets out how the staff in the units studied modified restorative justice approaches to take into account the specific relationships within group care settings. (author's abstract)

Penal Reform International. Towards methods of improving prison policy in Kenya

Details of the 2001 roundtable conference on Kenyan prison policy, organised by the government of Kenya and PRI, with the support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom. (publisher's abstract)

Penal Reform International. Les perspectives de réforme pénale et pénitentiaire dans le monde arabe

This is the final declaration from a regional conference organised by PRI, the Arab Institute of Human Rights and the Royal Commission on Human Rights, held in Amman, Jordan, in 2002. (excerpt)

Penal Reform International. Propuestas para una agenda global sobre reforma penal

abstract unavailable

Penal Reform International. Un nouveau programme en matière de réforme pénale

abstract unavailable

Penal Reform International. Manual de Buena Practica Penitenciaria: implementacion de las reglas minimas de naciones unidas para el tratamiento de los reclusos

abstract unavailable

Bukurura, Sufian Hemed. Protecting Prisoners’ Rights in Southern Africa: An Emerging Pattern

This work attempts to outline different mechanisms that have recently been put in place in recognition and protection of prisoners' rights in some African countries. These initiatives range from international instruments and regional measures, national mechanisms such as constitutional provisions, the establishment of offices of the ombudsmen, to favourable correctional services' legislation. How courts have been called upon to intervene in the protection of prisoners' rights in different countries in the region will also be examined. What emerges from both legal instruments and court decisions is that the way in which prison authorities and staff handle inmates under their care has come under strict scrutiny in recognition of inmates' rights. What this means in practical terms is that prison officers not only have to be increasingly aware of and sensitive to prisoners' rights, they also have to change their working practices to conform with these important individual rights and freedoms. These are the challenges facing prison authorities and personnel in the new millennium. (excerpt)

Penal Reform International. Making standards work: an international handbook on good prison practice

This handbook presents an overview of the UN rules on prison conditions and treatment of prisoners and explains their value and meaning for prison policy and practice. It has been written for those working with prisoners or responsible for their care and treatment. (publisher's abstract)

Editor. Access to Justice and Penal Reform

This is a review and recommendations made during the Second South Asia Conference, Dhaka, December 2002. (publisher's abstract)

Penal Reform International. Les recommAndations africaines pour la réforme pénale

abstract unavailable

Penal Reform International. A new agenda for penal reform

Between 13 and 17 April 1999, 120 people from 50 countries in all five continents met in Egham, Surrey, England to consider A New Approach for Penal Reform in a New Century. Government ministers and officials, parliamentarians, judges and representatives of international, regional and national nongovernmental organisations concerned with penal reform and human rights discussed the role of the criminal justice system and in particular the prison in a civil and democratic society. Those present agreed a new agenda for penal reform for the next decade. (extract)

Penal Reform International. Как заставить стандарты работать: международное пособие по практическому применению Минимальных стандартных правил ООН по обращению с заключенными

abstract unavailable

Toews, Barb. "The Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison:Rebuilding the Web of Relationships"

The Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison is one of a series of short books designed to provide readers with quick, easy to understand discussions of issues related to restorative justice and peacemaking. In this 91 page volume, Barb Toews discusses restorative justice from the point of view of someone working with incarcerated people. She discusses restorative justice theory and practices, meeting the justice needs of all those affected by crime, and the place of restorative justice in the prison setting.

Fellegi, Borbála. Summary of the Central and Eastern European AGIS Project

Between December 2003 and December 2005 the European Forum coordinated an AGIS project focusing on ‘Meeting the challenges of introducing victim-offender mediation in Central and Eastern Europe’ with the financial support of the European Commission. The project involved experts from Albania, Austria, Belgium. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UK. In this article, I intend to summarise the main motivations behind starting this project. Secondly, I will give an outline of the Final Report of the project including the main issues discussed. Then some of the conclusions and points for further discussion will be presented. Finally, some of the important elements of the working process will be discussed. (excerpt)

Stern, Vivien. Restorative Practices in Prison - A Review of the Literature

Stern notes that the literature on restorative justice is wide ranging, but that certain common principles emerge. These include the focus on the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, satisfaction for the victim within a framework of reconciliation and forgiveness, and accountability and restoration for the offender. Also, restorative justice is increasingly being brought to bear on imprisonment itself. The application of restorative justice principles in prison is seen as having several elements: offender awareness of the impact on the victim; restorative activities in prison; restorative principles and processes for conflict resolution in prison; and community relationships for reintegration of released offenders. In this paper, Stern summarizes and analyzes literature on restorative efforts in prisons concerning victims and the impact crime has on them.

Dinsdale, Jennifer. Restorative Justice in HM Prison Holme House: A Research Paper

The International Centre for Prison Studies initiated the Restorative Prison Project to examine the conceptual framework for imprisonment and to work with the Prison Service in Great Britain to apply restorative principles in the prison setting. One site for this work is HM Prison Holme House in northeast England. In 2001 Jennifer Dinsdale, a graduate student unaffiliated with the Restorative Prison Project, conducted research into the feasibility of restorative schemes in Holme House. She looked particularly at prisoners’ perceptions of the impact of their crimes on their victims, the openness of prisoners to engaging in reparative activities, and prisoners’ perspectives on their relationship to the community outside the prison. This paper reports her research findings.

Harman, Alan. "Room With a View: An ‘Open’ Prison in the Swiss Alps."

Strafansalt Saxerriet is Switzerland's only "open" prison. There are no walls; and inmates, sentenced for offenses that range from drunk driving to murder, wear their own clothes and work under the supervision of unarmed prison staff. The all-male prison has a capacity of 118 inmates and usually operates at or near this capacity. After conviction, an offender undergoes a selection process. There is an authorized staff limit of 90, but the facility usually operates with 46 full-time and 35 part-time staff. Just 15 of the staff are in security positions. The rest include social workers, instructors, and specialist supervisors. The facility operates as a business with two divisions, industrial and agricultural. The facility competes for contracts on the basis of quality rather than pricing. Prices are commensurate with those of outside competing businesses. Outside businesses view the prison operation as just another business competitor. Inmate pay is based on productivity. After inmates enter Saxerriet, they are assigned to a work post and can become qualified or obtain apprenticeships in such skills as printing and book binding, metal work, mechanics, computer-aided design, butcher, and operating equipment that ranges from a fork lift to heavy machinery. Several months before an inmate leaves the prison, he is allowed to work outside, but must return to the prison at night. Although the recidivism rate for all of Switzerland is 60 percent, the rate for Saxerriet is 40 percent, the lowest in the country.