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Naidu, Ereshnee. The Ties that Bind: Strengthening the links between memorialisation and transitional justice.

The lack of empirical research around memorialisation as a process within transitional justice has resulted in ad-hoc, often uncoordinated and unmonitored memorialisation efforts that serve only the needs of specific groups, often rendering memorials political mechanisms of the state that are unable to achieve it's full potential as a peacebuilding mechanism. Furthermore, symbolic reparation is perceived by many as a non-essential recommendation -- a mechanism that diverts attention from what is perceived as more significant forms of reparation such as financial reparations or land restitution. It is within this context, that the following paper is presented. (excerpt)

Knoops, G. G. J.. Truth and reconciliation commission models and international tribunals: a comparison.

This presentation will address the following topics: 1) Definition of truth commissions; 2)A comparison of the aims of TRC’s and tribunals; 3)The judicial relationship between TRC and international tribunals; 4) The dilemma’s pertaining to the relationship between TRC’s and tribunals; 5) The antagonistic position of TRC’s and international courts.

Restorative Justice Network of New Zealand. Restorative Justice Values and Processes

With the rapid expansion, members of the restorative justice community and the Government expressed concerns over the quality of implementation. In response, the Restorative Justice Network of New Zealand adopted a statement on Restorative Justice Values and Processes.

Boyes-Watson, Carolyn. Discovering Their Voice: Empowering Young People Through Circles

Peacemaking circles are a method of communication and problem solving derived from aboriginal and native traditions. This summary highlights how circles are used at Roca—a multicultural, youth, family, and community development organization—to open up new possibilities for empowerment of young people through discovering their own voice. (author's abstract)

Boyes-Watson, Carolyn. Come Together: Building Community Through Circles

Peacemaking circles are a method of communication and problem solving derived from aboriginal and native traditions. This summary highlights how circles are used at Roca - a multi-cultural, youth, family and community development organization - to strengthen the bonds of community. (author's abstract)

Boyes-Watson, Carolyn. Circle of Accountability: Being in Circle Outside of Circle.

Peacemaking circles are a method of communication and problem solving derived from aboriginal and native traditions. This summary highlights how circles are used at Roca—a multicultural, youth, family, and community development organization—to open up new possibilities for empowerment through learning how to be accountable to themselves and their community. (author's abstract).

Anonymous. Kake Circle Peacemaking

In 1999, in an effort to curb youth alcohol abuse, tribal members of the Organized Village of Kake(federally recognized Tribe of Kake, Alaska) established the Healing Heart Council and Circle Peacemaking, a reconciliation and sentencing process embedded in Tlingit traditions. Working in seamless conjunction with Alaska 's state court system, Circle Peacemaking intervenes in the pernicious cycle by which underage drinking becomes an entrenched pattern of adult alcoholism. Today, the program not only enforces underage drinking sentences in an environment where such accountability had been rare, but also restores the Tlingit culture and heals the Kake community.

McKinnon, Peter. Squaring the Circle With At-Risk Youth

The Peacemaking Circle project, which involves Crown prosecutors, provincial court judges, social workers and community activists, aims to help youth who have committed criminal offences, along with those likely to come in conflict with the law. In essence, youth participate in a series of meetings to identify issues and problems, devise effective solutions, and track progress. (excerpt)

Mills, Linda G. Intimacy and Terror: Making Peace with My Critics

This article describes a restorative approach to dealing with domestic violence. The article was written as a response to critiques of the author’s book, Insult to Injury: Rethinking our Responses to Intimate Abuse (2003). The main criticisms leveled at the author and her book include the charge that she blames women for men’s violence and that her approach to dealing with intimate violence places battered women at risk. In response, the author charges that the mainstream feminist movement has over-relied on the criminal justice system to respond to and prevent domestic violence and that mainstream researchers have not listened to the victims of violence. The author outlines her approach to dealing with domestic violence, which involves a restorative justice framework within two different models: peacemaking circles and healing circles. In both models, those affected by the violence are brought together to confront the violence and learn alternatives to violence. Abstract courtesy of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, www.ncjrs.gov.

Roche, Declan. Governing ungoverned spaces: the role of one women’s group in Cali, Colombia

In Cali, Colombia, a group of women from the District of Aguablanca is helping to bring peace and justice to one of the country’s poorest and most violent turban areas. Using skills and information disseminated through a network of weekly meetings, local women assist local residents both by providing a range of essential services – from mediation to adult education – and by referring residents to other service providers and resources in the community. This group, which is strikingly community-based, female, well-led, disciplined, and holistic, is now being touted as a model for communities elsewhere in Colombia. Communities, policy-makers and restorative justice advocates – both in Colombia and abroad – can learn much from their approach to restorative justice, and more broadly, from their network-based approach to governing ungoverned spaces. Much of the debate about the conflict in Colombia focuses on national events and neglects the efforts of local communities to nurture peace and justice in their immediate environment. The Aguablanca program demonstrates that local initiatives can make a big difference in the lives of ordinary Colombians. To replicate the success of this program in communities elsewhere, however, it will be necessary to identify local citizens who can provide the same leadership and commitment as the women of Aguablanca. Author’s abstract.

Book, Kim. Making Victims' Voices Heard

Victims’ Voices Heard (VVH) provides victims and victim survivors of severe violence the opportunity to meet with their offenders in a facilitated encounter. Located in Delaware, it is based on a model first developed in Texas. Kim Book, programme coordinator for VVH, describes her experience with the criminal justice system and shares a victim perspective on the mediation process.

Flanagan, Helen. Restorative Approaches in Sefton: The Behaviour Improvement Programme.

Since the project began in September 2003 a comprehensive training programme has been developed to provide staff,pupils and parents with a range of positive strategies for addressing issues of behaviour and attendance. 18 partner schools, from Primary,Secondary and Special EBD schools make up the Behaviour Improvement Project in Sefton. All the schools appointed a Lead Behaviour Professional (LBP) who leads the training and cascading of training to all staff.The LBP is a senior member of staff who models appropriate positive interventions with all members of the school community. As the schools had adopted solution focussed ways of working,a move towards formal restorative practice seemed sensible.In May 2004 close links were developed with the Sefton Centre for Restorative Practice which has led the development of Restorative Practice, and the centre's staff provided Real Justice Training for BIP schools. (excerpt)

Cook, Kimberly. Doing Difference and Accountability in Restorative Justice Conferences.

This article analyses social dynamics in restorative justice conferences employing two distinct meanings of accountability: one embodied in performing gendered (and other) social relations, and the second, in performing remorse. Engaging feminist theory of ‘doing gender’ and structured action, offenders’ accounts of their behaviour, gendered participation of parents and community representatives are analysed. Specifically examined are three ideals of restorative justice: empowerment, remorse and reintegration, and bridging barriers between participants. The data analysed are from extensive field notes collected during six months of research into restorative justice in Australia and as a practitioner in Maine. Analyses reveal that achieving these ideals is more elusive than anticipated. Rather, accountability dynamics around gender, race and social class reinforce social privileges and disadvantage. (Author's abstract)

Coker, Donna. Restorative Justice, Navajo Peacemaking and Domestic Violence.

I argue that RJ processes may be beneficial for some women who experience domestic violence, but only if those processes meet five criteria: prioritize victim safety over batterer rehabilitation; offer material as well as social supports for victims; work as part of a coordinated community response; engage normative judgments that oppose gendered domination as well as violence; and do not make forgiveness a goal of the process. I review my earlier study of Navajo Peacemaking in light of these criteria. I also explore the significant differences between Peacemaking and other processes that are said to be derived from Indigenous justice models, noting in particular that the process is completely controlled by the Navajo Nation. (excerpt)

Derksen, Wilma. Confronting the Horror: The Aftermath of Violence

Combining graphic honesty with compassion and hope, this book serves as a road map through the aftermath of violence by addressing both the personal and justice issues encountered after violent act. In an easy-to-read conversational style, liberally sprinkled with personal stories, Derksen has organized the Crime Victim Detour (the victim’s journey) into something understandable and readable. Written especially for victims of crime, their friends and family, and service providers. (publisher’s abstract).

Triggs, Sue. New Zealand Court-Referred Restorative Justice Pilot

This study measured the reoffending rate, measured as the reconviction rate, 2 years after a sample of offenders participated in New Zealand's court-referred restorative justice pilot program. The 206 offenders who had participated in a court-referred restorative justice conference had a 2-year reconviction rate of 41 percent, compared to their predicted rate of 45 percent. The reconviction rates for the 10 matched comparison groups ranged from 42 percent to 49 percent (45 percent average). The proportion of the conference group that had not yet reoffended after 2 years was higher than for all 10 comparison groups, but not to the level of statistical significance. The subsequent imprisonment rate for the conference group was 10 percent, which was not significantly different from the average of 12 percent for the comparison groups. The severity of offenses committed did not differ significantly between the conference and comparison groups. Offenders referred to conferences were more likely than those not referred to have fewer and less serious previous convictions and to be traffic offenders. The offender groups with no reduction in reoffending were most likely to be under age 20; to have had their first conviction at age 18 or under; to be Maori; and to have committed burglary, fraud, or serious assault. The study concluded that overall conference outcomes did not significantly affect reoffending rates. Reoffending was assessed throughout the 2-year follow up period and at the end of the 1-year and 2-year follow up periods. The seriousness of reoffending and the subsequent imprisonment rate were also examined. The results for the conference group were compared with their predicted reconviction rates, which were derived from a logistic regression model. The results for the conference group were also compared with the results for 10 matched comparison groups that were selected from eligible offenders who were not referred to the pilot program. 17 tables, 4 figures, and appended description of methodology and group profiles Abstract courtesy of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, www.ncjrs.gov.

Borer, Tristan Anne. Telling the Truths: Truth Telling and Peace Building in Post-Conflict Societies

Confronting the past has become an established norm for countries undergoing transitions from violence to peace, from authoritarianism to democracy, or both. This book draws from two bodies of literature – peacebuilding and transitional justice – to examine whether truth-telling mechanisms can contribute to sustainable peace and, if so, how and under what conditions. The authors approach these questions by examining whether truth telling contributes to the following elements, all of which are deemed to be constitutive of sustainable peace: reconciliation, human rights, gender equity, restorative justice, the rule of law, the mitigation of violence, and the healing of trauma. (publisher’s description).

Newell, Tim and Edgar, Kimmett. Restorative Justice in Prisons. A Guide to Making it Happen

This book sets out to translate theory and fine words into mainstream practice. It will be of interest to a wide range of prison and RJ practitioners as well as other people such as judges, magistrates, police officers and probation officers who deal with crime prevention, reparation, rehabilitation and reintegration. It looks at the huge, untapped potential for implementing restorative approaches in prison and provides a model for organizational and cultural change –‘building a restorative community within prison walls’ – and makes suggestions about everyday functions such as sentence planning, discipline, violence reduction and complaints. (publisher’s description)

Elster, Jon. Retribution and Reparation in the Transition to Democracy

The contributions in this volume offer a comprehensive analysis of transitional justice from 1945 to the present. They focus on retribution against the leaders and agents of autocratic regimes preceding democratic transitions, and on reparation to victims. Part I contains general theoretical discussions of retribution and reparation. The essays in Part II survey transitional justice in the wake of World War II, covering Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Norway. In Part III, the contributors discuss more recent transitions in Argentina, Chile, Eastern Europe, the former German Democratic Republic, and South Africa, with a chapter on the reparation of injustice in some of these situations. The editor provides a general introduction, a brief introduction to each part, and a conclusion that looks beyond regime transitions to vroader issues of rectifying historical injustice. (Publisher’s description)

Hayes, Hennessey. Apologies and Accounts in Youth Justice Conferencing: Reinterpreting Research Outcomes.

The literature on restorative justice is replete with findings that show offenders and victims judge restorative processes as fair and view outcomes as satisfactory. There is less evidence to suggest, however, that restorative processes are in fact restorative. I first consider how apology and forgiveness feature in one form of restorative justice (youth justice conferencing) and then examine findings from two major research projects in Australia (RISE and SAJJ) to show why reconciliation and repair are not common outcomes in restorative justice conferences. (author's abstract)