Author Description

A highly innovative account that sets out the arguments for restorative justice in the form of a fictional debate - by one of the founders of the victims movement. A must for anyone interested in restorative justice or dealing with victim/offender issues - including politicians! This extraordinary book describes 'A Symposium' at which a range of presenters (a politician, judge, psychologist, probation officer, mediator etc.) talk about crime, criminal offending and victims and answer questions from their audience. This highly innovative approach is the vehicle for Martin Wright's survey of developments in the field of Restorative Justice, including a close examination of issues of concern to victims, offenders, courts, mediators and criminal justice practitioners making Restoring Respect for Justice a must for anyone concerned with these issues. The work challenges many assumptions about criminal justice, one key theme being that if society (including law and justice) does not ensure that people are respected as individuals then they will not respect the property or person of others - or the law. Neither is the present system designed to show sufficient respect for victims which again serves to undermine respect for it.