INQ-110 | Restorative Justice

Full Title: Restorative Justice: From Retribution and Punishment to Restoration and Reintegration

Topic Description:

This course examines restorative justice, in theory and in practice, and contrasts its basic principles with the concepts and application of retribution and punishment. From a global perspective, students will examine the historical and cultural contexts in which restoration, reintegration and peacemaking criminology are utilized. Practices such as victim/offender conferencing, family group conferencing and sentencing circles will be researched and critically evaluated. Course material will provide students with the tools to debate the following critical questions: What does justice mean? What is society’s role in responding to wrongdoing? Are restorative justice and retribution mutually exclusive? How can the harm from wrongdoing most effectively be resolved? Can restorative justice be effectively applied in large, more complex and individualistic societies? We critically evaluate literature regarding efforts to utilize compensatory sanctions, collaborative processes and consensual outcomes to repair the harm to victims, communities and offenders in the course of offending behavior.

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: January 2010