Victim Forgiveness in Restorative Justice Dialogue

Abstract

The burgeoning interest in the healing potential of victim forgiveness has predictably pulled the field of restorative justice into the limelight because of its ability to achieve emotional repair for crime victims in ways that influence a forgiveness response. This article delineates the unique dimensions of forgiveness in restorative justice, reviews the empirical literature on forgiveness in restorative justice programs, and makes recommendations about how to research forgiveness in ways that protect the uniqueness of each victim’s process and guard against the imposition of moral or religious prescriptions to forgive.

Keywords:

• restorative justice
• forgiveness
• crime victims
• apology
• remorse
• empathy

Notes

Umbreit, M. S. (1995a). Mediation of criminal conflict: An assessment of programs in four Canadian provinces. University of Minnesota: Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking

Zehr, H. (1985). Retributive justice, restorative justice. New Perspectives in Crime and Justice, Occasional Papers Series 4. Akron, PA: Mennonite Central Committee, U.S. Office of Criminal Justice