Report: Using restorative justice approaches in community development

An article examined the use of restorative justice processes by community workers, police officers, children’s homes staff, family group conference conveners, and teachers in the city of Hull, in the north east of England.

It concluded that community development could be improved through restorative approaches using three ‘pathways’ that centred on using small-scale restorative processes within schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.

Abstract

Restorative justice processes are increasingly advocated as methods that can be implemented to improve community development. Considering this expansion it is remarkable that little research has been undertaken on how professionals who work in community settings experience using restorative

This article aims to describe the experiences of community workers, police officers, children’s homes staff, family group conference conveners and teachers as they use restorative approaches across the city of Hull.

It concludes that to improve community development through restorative approaches three pathways should be followed. These pathways centre on using small-scale restorative processes within schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods.