This issue is devoted to the topic of restorative justice. The restorative justice movement deserves our undivided attention as a potential alternative to present responses to crime. Today there is much discussion about restorative justice, numerous calls for its implementation, and some critical response. It is clear that the public, our political leadership, numerous organizations involved in crime control, mainstream criminology, and many others need to learn what restorative justice means and how victims, society, and offenders can benefit from it. These papers examine theory, practice, and reform related to restorative justice. Victim-offender mediation and family group counselling receive the most attention, and to a lesser extent other restorative processes. The lead article by Mark Umbreit (his keynote speech to the 1998 WSC meetings) places the varied forms of restorative justice in an international and national context and focuses attention on victim-offender mediation. Allison Morris and Gabrielle Maxwell examine the practice of family group counselling among juveniles in New Zealand. John Gehm provides an in-depth look at participation in victim-offender mediation, the possible consequences for offenders, and various theories about why victims become involved in mediation. Gordon Bazemore looks at the potential role of juvenile court judges in the implementation of restorative justice, using the focus group method. Mara Schiff systematically details the methodological issues surrounding restorative justice and offers guidance to future research in this area. Finally, the Proceedings of the Western Society of Criminology are also included in this issue.

Source: Vanspauwen, K., Robert, L., Aertsen, I., Parmentier, S. (2003), Restorative Justice and Restorative Detention. A selected and annotated bibliography. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid, Onderzoeksgroep Penologie en Victimologie.