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Crime Law Soc Change (2013) 59:79111
DOI 10.1007/s10611-012-9408-8
Nikolaos Stamatakis & Christophe Vandeviver
Published online: 30 November 2012# Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2012
Abstract Justice when spelled with a capital J should be discursive [31] and based on equal respect ([40]: 206, 210) allowing a plurality of voices within the discourse. Particularly in the present research, this thread of pluralism is important. Prisoners voices have rarely been heard. Yet, if we wish to be true to the principle that restorative justice is discursive, it follows that the discourse is not complete without also accommodating their voices. To date, little research attention has been paid to the inner motivations of imprisoned offenders for willing to participate in restorative justice initiatives, as well as to their perceptions about their relationships with the victim and the community and the impact of religion on them. Hence, the present empirical study, conducted in several prisons across Belgium, endeavours to shed light on these aspects that have been theoretically overlooked, providing valuable information at policy-level about the design of future restorative justice programmes.
Introduction
A plethora of restorative justice advocates focus on its potential and capacity to improve the satisfaction levels of victims and local communities that come into contact with offending and the criminal process. Restorative justice has been found applicable in a variety of settings (such as school, communities [21, 41] and work place [78]), as well as at different stages within the criminal justice system (in context with probation and parole, [48, 87] or as cautioning/diversion by police [23]). But, does restorative justice have a role to play at the back-end of the system with persons already serving prison sentences?
Restorative justice delivered in custodial settings could have an important contribution to create safer communities ([5]: 105). It could maximize the opportunity for
N. Stamatakis (*) : C. Vandeviver Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium e-mail: [email protected]
N. Stamatakis
University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
Restorative justice in Belgian prisons: the results of an empirical research
80 N. Stamatakis, C. Vandeviver
communities outside of prison walls to help in the rehabilitation of offenders [65], as well as offer victims the chance to have questions answered prior to prisoners release ([46]: 402; [62]:203). From an offenders perspective, in-prison restorative justice programmes can...