ABSTRACT
The honeymoon is over. The romantic illusion that the coupling of reintegrative shaming (the theory) and restorative justice (the practice) would be capable of producing a progressive transformation of the state-centred criminal justice system is wearing thin. Trouble and strife are arising from all quarters and even some gamekeepers are turning into poachers (Daly 2002; Roche 2003; Strang 2002). The gap between promise and performance is becoming increasingly evident and it is now becoming apparent that the hopes and aspirations of many well- meaning advocates are fading fast. A growing number of critiques have pointed to the chasm between the rhetoric and reality of restorative justice and its failure to realize its own claims and aspirations.
