ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses upon the evaluation results of the Collaborative Justice Project (CJP), a demonstration project running in the Ottawa, Ontario area. Whereas many restorative justice programmes (such as mediation and family group conferencing) focus on relatively minor offences, the CJP employs a restorative justice approach in cases of serious crime. The goal of the research is to expand the empirical base regarding restorative justice by determining whether programmes like the CJP are successful. The research evaluates the CJP by examining satisfaction levels of victims, offenders and participating community members; by determining whether participation with the CJP meets the needs of clients; and by assessing the reaction of clients and key criminal justice personnel to the CJP. Several outcome measures are examined through a pre- and post-measure design. The sample consists of CJP clients and matched comparison groups of offenders and victims. Results assessing whether the CJP served as an alternative to incarceration and whether participation by offenders reduced their likelihood of reoffending, are also addressed. The implications of the research are discussed from a restorative justice perspective.
