ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we discuss the feasibility of underlying assumptions of "community" and "restorative" justice. These justice paradigms, often used interchangeably, are thought to embody a different conception of public safety that: ( 1) is delivered through a local or neighborhood level operational focus, (2) seeks to involve and empower ordinary citizens, (3) relies upon "private" and "parochial" forms of social control, and (4) operates within a problem-solving approach to social issues. Our discussion of their underlying assumptions leads us to pose a number of critical questions and concerns regarding the role and place of "community" within restorative justice and its potential implications for theory and practice. This leads us to consider the transformative potential and limitations of restorative justice within broader notions of crime prevention, community safety, and social policy. We begin with an attempt to distinguish community and restorative justice concepts.
