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Abstract: 

Canadian research to date has shown many positive effects of restorative justice, a result that is consistent with international research findings. Research has shown that participants of restorative justice programs are generally more satisfied than those who have experienced the traditional Canadian criminal justice system. Participants in restorative justice programs have expressed high levels of perceived fairness about the restorative justice process and have reported strong effects on both victims and offenders in humanizing the justice system. This is consistent with research findings in the United States and Australia. Restorative justice practices have also been found to have positive impacts on the overall feelings of well-being for both victims and offenders, as well as on participants’ psychological and physical health. Overall, Canadian results are consistent with the conclusions of the wider empirical literature on restorative justice. Practitioners will find this overview helpful in program design, development, implementation, and evaluation of restorative justice processes.

Keywords: Restorative Justice

Affiliations:  1: Public Safety Canada, Corrections Research Unit.