Book Review: Restorative Justice and the Law.

Walgrave, Lode, ed. 2002. Devon, UK: Willan Publishing. ISBN 1-903240-96-4.
 
Reviewed by Gregory Strong


As restorative justice has developed over the last two decades, one of the critical issues for theory and practice has been the relationship between restorative justice and formal law. The authors in this book explore many aspects of the interplay between restorative justice and law, including questions of victimization, rehabilitation, punishment, the state, jurisprudence, and more.

The papers were originally planned for presentation at the Fifth International Conference on Restorative Justice in Leuven, Belgium, 16-19 September 2001. Because of the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, some presenters were unable to come to the conference. Through other means the drafts of the papers were made available for review and comment by peers. This book, then, grew out of papers presented at the conference and papers disseminated and completed outside of the conference. Contributors to the book include academics and policy-makers in criminology and restorative justice from around the world. Professional sketches of the contributors, an extensive list of references, and an index add to the value and usefulness of the book.

Chapter Summaries:

Introduction

Towards an ethics of restorative justice

Victimalization and restorative justice

The quest for a restorative model of rehabilitation

Restoration and the family

Restorative punishment and punitive restoration

The state, community and restorative justice

Creating restorative systems

In search of restorative jurisprudence

Restorative justice and the law: the case for an integrated, systemic approach

Restorative justice and the law: socio-ethical and juridical foundations for a systemic approach



May 2003