This paper will discuss the impact of Restorative Justice on Corrections. Restorative Justice is an approach that focuses on repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior while also holding offenders accountable for their actions. It emphasizes improving the damage done to victims and the community rather than punishing the offender. This piece of writing will discuss some of the advantages of using Restorative Justice in the Corrections system and some drawbacks. In light of this, the paper will shed light on two peer articles on restorative Justice on corrections.
Inmates’ recidivism rates have been the primary focus of studies on restorative Justice in correctional facilities. Only some studies have examined the potential for additional changes in jailed individuals due to restorative Justice. To fill this need, Ross and Muro (2020) describe the findings of an examination of Mending Bridges, a therapeutic justice program in three New England men’s prisons. Ross and Muro (2020) conducted a study to examine the possibilities of prison-based restorative Justice beyond recidivism. In particular, the investigators sought to explore how restorative justice practices may reduce recidivism and increase the successful reintegration of individuals into society after release. The researchers hypothesized that restorative justice practices might lead to a reduction in recidivism and an increase in successful reintegration. To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted an empirical study that included 100 individuals who had engaged in restorative justice practices while in prison. The researchers used a survey instrument to collect data on the participants’ attitudes and perceptions of restorative justice practices.
The study’s findings indicated that implementing restorative justice techniques had a favorable impact on the rate of recidivism. Specifically, the results demonstrated that restorative justice practices significantly affected recidivism rates. Those individuals who participated in restorative justice practices had an average recidivism rate of 20%, whereas those who did not participate had an average recidivism rate of 27%. In addition, the findings demonstrated that participation in restorative justice practices led to an increased likelihood of successful reintegration into society. The average successful reintegration rate of individuals who participated in restorative justice practices was 85%, whereas the average rate of individuals who did not participate in restorative justice practices was 81%. According to the study’s findings, participants’ perceptions of the criminal justice system and their sense of self-sufficiency improved as a result of their exposure to restorative justice techniques. The study’s findings indicated that restorative justice practices had a good impact, in general, not only on the rate of repeat offenders and effective reintegration but also on the attitudes and levels of self-efficacy of the participants.
Overall, the authors concluded that prison-based Restorative Justice could positively reduce recidivism and promote healing among victims and offenders. The results provide evidence that restorative justice programs can transform the criminal justice system by empowering prisoners and helping them take responsibility for their actions.
The second article discussed the use of restorative Justice in juvenile correctional facilities. Restorative Justice, which places a premium on what is best for a child’s development, is often cited in guidelines for dealing with juvenile offenders. It is true, however, that a disproportionately large number of juvenile offenders are processed through the legal system. The aim of the research carried out by Sriwiyanti et al. (2021) is to explain and assess restorative Justice’s use in Indonesia, taking into account the underlying mental health issues and developmental phases that contribute to juvenile delinquency. The study by Sriwiyanti, Saefudin, and Aminah (2021) fosters the exploration of the psychological perspective and Islamic law as it relates to restorative Justice for juvenile offenders in Indonesia. The research gap addressed how the psychological perspective and Islamic law could support restorative Justice in Indonesia. The investigators hypothesized that a combination of psychological perspectives and Islamic law could be used to guide the use of restorative Justice for juvenile offenders in Indonesia.
To investigate this hypothesis, the investigators used a qualitative research design. They conducted semi-structured interviews with nine juvenile offenders from the Juvenile Court of West Java and nine experts from the Juvenile Court of West Java, the Juvenile Court of Banten, and the Faculty of Psychology of Padjajaran University. The investigators analyzed the data using thematic analysis and triangulation of the data.
The study’s results found that psychological perspectives and Islamic law could be used to support restorative Justice in Indonesia. The psychological perspective was found to help understand juvenile offenders’ behavior and guide the rehabilitation process. Islamic law was helpful in providing guidance for dealing with juvenile offenders, including those who had committed serious crimes. The findings suggest that psychological perspectives and Islamic law should be used to provide a more holistic approach to restorative Justice for juvenile offenders in Indonesia.
Overall, Restorative Justice has the potential to be a powerful tool for improving the effectiveness of correctional systems. It can help reduce recidivism, improve the rehabilitation of offenders, and repair the harm done to victims and communities. However, it is essential to note that restorative Justice is not a panacea for all disciplinary problems. It should be used with other evidence-based approaches to maximize its impact. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that vital justice programs are correctly implemented to ensure the effectiveness of the corrections system.
References
Ross, K., & Muro, D. (2020). Possibilities of prison-based restorative Justice: transformation beyond recidivism. Contemporary Justice Review, 23(3), 291-313. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783258
Sriwiyanti, S., Saefudin, W., & Aminah, S. (2021). Restorative Justice for Juvenile Offenders in Indonesia: A Study of Psychological Perspective and Islamic Law. JIL: Journal of Islamic Law, 2(2), 168-196. http://e-journal.iainptk.ac.id/index.php/jil/article/view/335
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