ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims at bringing new insights into the position of the victim within restorative justice processes and programmes, by presenting theoretical developments and sharing original findings of a research project carried out in Europe. The study, led by the European Forum for Restorative Justice in cooperation with Victim Support Europe and co-funded by the EU, aimed at studying two main issues: how can we describe and understand victims' experiences in restorative justice, and how are European restorative justice programmes being run with regard to the inclusion of victims. The book thus offers a comprehensive overview of literature, empirical research as well as original findings on the practice of mediation and conferencing in certain European countries, with the focus on the position of the victim.
