Restorative Justice
of addressing the problem of recidivism, also known as repeat offending. In their meta-analysis of 22 studies, comparing the effectiveness of restorative justice programs and conventional rehabilitation programs, Latimer, Dowden & Muise (2005) found that the former was effective in reducing recidivism. Nonetheless, majority of the restorative programs included in the meta-analysis were characterised by self-selection bias. This is, however, a common phenomenon in restorative justice research. A narrative review by Elis (2005) further shows that restorative justice programs can reduce the rate of recidivism. They bring the offender to a deeper, emotional realisation of the impact of their offense on the victim, consequently minimising the tendency of repeat offending. The review, however, focused on programs… Continue Reading...
