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Advantages
- The Restorative Justice Council (2015) reported an 85% victim satisfaction rate from face-to-face restorative justice sessions. The crimes varied from minor to severe, suggesting that restorative justice may be an appropriate response to a range of crimes.
- Sherman and Strang (2007) reviewed previous randomised control trials of restorative justice programmes that had taken place in the UK, the USA and Australia. They found that compared to conventional methods of justice, victims of crime were less likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder when they had undergone restorative justice, and they were also less likely to desire revenge. They also had a much higher rate of victim satisfaction.
- comparison to punishments - can be argued that RJ and AM treat causes of criminality more than traditional punishments (eg. prison, community service) as they give the offender a chance to work through anger that may stem from social factors (starts a discussion that may lead to solving these issues)
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Disadvantages
- However, Miers et al (2001) found that a significant minority of victims felt sceptical about the offenders’ motives for taking part in restorative justice. Many felt that the offenders were only agreeing to take partas it may lead to a reduced sentence. Some victims also found the experience to be a negative one; having direct contact with the offender was perceived as unsettling and intimidating.
- The system will never be able to apply to all offenders and all victims. First of all, an offender who has admitted to the crime is needed and second some crimes may not be suitable. Furthermore, some victims may decline the offer. This means that restorative justice can’t be a global solution to dealing with offending behaviour.
- research lacks generalisability - research into restorative justice is hampered by the fact that it is done on a strictly voluntary bases. 1) neither offender nor victim can be forced to attend 2) research suffers from selection bias and thus cannot be generalised
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- does not treat cause - restorative justice and anger management do not treat social causes for crime that mean it is committed out of necessity (unemployment, poverty) or ignorance (education, childhood) rather than hate or anger (BUT - see advantage 4)
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