Restorative and Alternative Justice (Level 6)

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Sarah Lamble
• Assessment: a 750-word class discussant/article presentation (20%) and a 3250-word essay or case study analysis (80%)

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary debates around restorative and alternative justice. Starting with a theoretical overview of the motivations, principles and values of restorative and transformative justice, it then proceeds by way of case study analysis, offering a number of specific empirical examples of practices in context. Exploring both state-based and non-state-based strategies, the module provides a foundation from which to critically assess alternative forms of justice in contrast to conventional state-based ‘law, order and punishment’ strategies. It also provides a theoretically informed, yet empirically grounded foundation from which to explore the limits and possibilities of restorative and transformative justice policy and practice.

Indicative module syllabus

• Why Alternative Justice: Reviewing the Limits of Conventional Criminal Justice?
• Working Inside and Outside ‘the State’: Key Debates in Policy and Practice
• Case Study 1: Restorative Justice for State-Level Injustices - South Africa
• Case Study 2: Indigenous Community Justice - Nigeria and South America
• Case Study 3: Family Group Conferencing - New Zealand and Australia
• Case Study 4: Victim Offender Mediation - UK
• Case Study 5: Sentencing Circles - Canada
• Case Study 6: Community Accountability Groups - USA
• Case Study 7: Circles of Support and Accountability - Canada and UK
• Addressing Systemic Injustice: Transformative Justice and Structural Change

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand the key principles, values and practices of restorative and transformative justice
• appreciate the diversity and range of restorative and alternative justice approaches
• be able to identify some of the key challenges and debates in policy and practice around restorative and alternative justice approaches
• be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of state-based and non-state-based alternatives to conventional criminal justice
• appreciate the social, political, historical and economic context of recent trends in restorative and transformative justice
• be able to analyse, evaluate and compare a range of theoretical approaches
• be able to identify strengths, weaknesses, values and limitations in current approaches to restorative justice policy and practice
• appreciate the importance of social and cultural contexts for understanding social policy and practice.