ABSTRACT
At a time when the meaning and capacity of the criminal justice system are in question, it is not surprising that an idea like restorative justice has captured the attention of communities and criminal justice systems. Indeed, a recent Canadian study has demonstrated that restorative justice has been more successful than the retributive system in achieving victim and offender satisfaction, increasing offender compliance with restitution, and decreasing recidivism (Latimer, Dowden and Muise, 2001: 17). Like many new ideas, however, the implementation of restorative processes has required growth, the direction of which appears to depend on adherence to the restorative philosophy of peacemaking. The suitability of restorative justice for “peace officers” seems logical, but it presents a number of potential obstacles to effective police-based restorative practices (see also Bazemore and Griffith, Chapter 10).
