Restorative Justice Today: Practical Applications

“In 2013 justice practitioners, students and conflict resolution (or conflict prevention) readers may
proclaim this publication as their book of the year.” ~ Eric Assur, Restorative Justice Online

Edited by Katherine Stuart van Wormer, University of Northern Iowa, & Lorenn Walker, University of
Hawaii Honolulu Community College, 2013, 280 pages, SAGE Publications, Inc

Restorative Justice Today: Practical Applications takes a hard look at the issues and concepts surrounding
restorative justice and current restorative practices used in a broad range of areas today. In a time when the
cost of prisons and jails is on the rise resulting in more offenders being kept out of the community, this
timely and contemporary book exposes readers to a range of restorative practices that can be implemented
with youths and adults, in schools, neighborhoods, prisons, child welfare agencies, and international
institutes of justice. The authors, renowned international experts in the area of restorative justice, provide
information not found in other restorative justice texts. Co-editor Lorenn Walker, who has conducted
workshops and facilitated victim-offender conferencing around the world, describes some of her
experiences in dramatic detail in this book. Katherine van Wormer describes how restorative strategies can
be applied in situations believed to be off limits, such as rape and domestic violence.

Key Features

 This readable book pays special attention to unique areas for restorative practices, such as
environmental restoration, clergy sexual abuse, reentry from prison, interpersonal violence,
and peacemaking applications after wars, which are not discussed in other restorative
justice books.
 Boxed essays offer personal testimonials from victims and offenders who have engaged in
restorative processes.
 Contributors have national and international reputations and are well known for their
contributions to restorative justice research and practice.
 Chapter-opening summaries help increase readers comprehension
 Critical thinking questions follow each chapter to improve reader understanding.
 International coverage introduces positive innovations from other countries.
 Contributors include Howard Zehr, Kay Pranis, Burt Galaway, Gabrielle Maxwell, David
Wexler & Gale Burford.
 Foreword by Northern Ireland law professor Shadd Maruna

Instructors: Complimentary Review Copy: http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book237503#tabview=toc

Paperback ISBN: 9781452219912 $45 For 30% discount, use code N140422.
Foreword Shadd Maruna
Part I Overview: Introduction to Restorative Justice
Chapter 1: Restorative Justice: Definition and Purpose Lorenn Walker
Box 1: Restorative Justice: What’s That? Howard Zehr
Chapter 2: Reflections from a Descendant of the Minnesota Restitution Kay Pranis
Center (MRC)
Chapter 3: Preparing Students of Criminal Justice for Restorative Justice Rudi Kauffman, Heather Koontz
Practice
Chapter 4: Restorative Justice and Therapeutic Jurisprudence: All in the David Wexler
Family
 Restorative Justice Today: Practical Applications

Part II Overview: Prevention Programs And Community Practice

Chapter 5: Restorative Justice for Victims Without Offender Participation Lorenn Walker
Chapter 6: A Story of the Emergence of Restorative Practice in Schools in Margaret Thorsborne
Australia and New Zealand: Reflect, Repair, Reconnect
Chapter 7: Restorative Justice for Juvenile Delinquents in Hong Kong and Dennis S.W. Wong
China
Chapter 8: Youth Justice and Restorative Justice in Norway Ida Hydle
Chapter 9: Beyond Policy: Conferencing on Student Misbehavior Lorenn Walker
Chapter 10: Family Group Conferences in Youth Justice and Child Welfare Gale Burford
in Vermont
Chapter 11: Creating Healthy Residential Communities in Higher Ted Wachtel, Stacey Miller
Education Through the Use of Restorative Practices
Part III Overview: Pre-Trial: Before or After Arrest - Diversion Programs
Chapter 12: Restorative and Diversionary Responses to Youth Offending Gabrielle Maxwell
in New Zealand
Chapter 13: Community Members: Vital Voices to the Restorative Justice Mona Schatz
Process
Chapter 14: Restorative Justice and Gendered Violence Anne Hayden, Katherine van Wormer
Chapter 15: Clergy Child Sexual Abuse: The Restorative Justice Option Theo Gavrielides
Part IV Overview: In Correctional and Reentry Programs
Chapter 16: "Hate Left Me That Day": Victim Offender Dialogue in Amy Holloway, Gale Burford
Vermont
Chapter 17: Brazil’s Restorative Prisons Lorenn Walker, Andrew Johnson,
Katherine van Wormer
Chapter 18: Restorative Justice Skills Building for Incarcerated People Lorenn Walker, Ted Sakai
Chapter 19: Huikahi Restorative Circles: A Public Health Approach for Lorenn Walker, Rebecca Greening
Reentry Planning
Chapter 20: Restorative Celebrations for Parolee and Probationer Lorenn Walker
Completion: The Importance of Ritual for Reentry
Part V Overview: Community Restoration and Reparation
Chapter 21: Restorative Interventions for Post-War Nations Carl Stauffer
Chapter 22: Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and Transitional David K. Androff
Justice in a Restorative Justice Context
Chapter 23: Social Work Values and Restorative Justice Marta Vides Saade
Chapter 24: Restorative Justice Almost 50 Years Later: Japanese American Rita Takashashi
Redress for Exclusion, Restriction, and Incarceration
Chapter 25: Speaking Earth: Environmental Restoration and Restorative Fred H. Besthorn
Justice
Box : Native Restorative Justice Philosophy Laura Mirsky
 Restorative Justice Today: Practical Applications

Reviews:

“Over the past thirty years the number of books or publications on Restorative Justice (R.J.) has
increased annually. In 2013 justice practitioners, students and conflict resolution (or conflict prevention)
readers may proclaim this publication as their book of the year. The authors, both with interesting
backgrounds and academic credentials have provided a ‘practical’ look at the current applications for
R.J. in the United States and elsewhere. Unlike most North American or United Kingdom anthologies
with limited geographic focus this publication provides an impressive worldwide frame of
reference. The words they use are well chosen and the entire collection of twenty five (25) articles by a
well chosen collection of twenty nine listed authors is thoughtfully organized.” Eric Assur, [RJ] Online,
http://www.restorativejustice.org/RJOB/review-restorative-justice-today-practical-applications

"Lorenn Walker and Katherine van Wormer assemble a very contemporary collection of reforms,
evidence and critique on the transformation of justice. Its pages are graced with the reflections of many
of the deepest thinkers and doers of restorative justice. The book is a wonderful accomplishment that is
strewn with so many gems of beautiful thought and beautiful practice. This is an inspiring book for those
struggling to seek the heartland of a restorative vision." John Braithwaite, Australian National
University

"This book offers up-to-date, original scholarship on a variety of restorative justice topics from multiple
perspectives and a variety of countries. Its contents should be of interest to scholars, practitioners, and
educators alike. Much of the material is on the cutting edge—for example, the detailed descriptions of
restorative strategies for situations of school bullying, gendered violence, reentry following
incarceration, and priest abuse.” John Graham, University of Calgary

"Restorative Justice Today is a needed contribution that begins the next phase of serious discussion in
the RJ field. While sound theory and research remain central to advancement, this contribution provides
an outline for expanding and improving practice in a number of settings. The book samples stories of
innovative use of restorative justice and describes promising pathways to application in settings from
playgrounds to prisons, and across disparate cities and continents.” Gordon Bazemore, Ph.D., Florida
Atlantic University

"It will be a beautiful day in our world where Restorative Justice Today is read by all who work in
criminal justice as well as all who are impacted by crime. The book is highly instructive and profoundly
validating to the mind and heart in describing how true justice can be achieved. This amazing book
underscores how restorative justice can and must be part of the criminal justice fabric and approach as a
rule not as an exception." Sunny Schwartz, director San Francisco Jail Restorative Justice Program