Past Programs
Crime - 2008
Restorative Justice
21/02/2008
Criminologists calling for an overhaul of our adversarial court system say it's time that more serious attention is paid to restorative justice. But what is the real value of this alternative form of justice - does restorative justice deliver better outcomes for victims than a day in court?
It's been criticised as a 'soft option' for offenders, yet there's evidence that shows it can result in harsher penalties than those delivered under traditional criminal trials.
And while it's use in Australia has so far being limited to primarily juvenile justice there's debate about its extension to adult justice system and its application to more serious crimes like sexual assault.
