ABSTRACT
Universities are, paradoxically, institutions with ancient traditions and hierarchical power relations but also the sites of progressive thought and proving grounds for emerging social movements. They allow for creative experimentation and academic freedom but enforce rigorous compliance to academic standards and “politically correct” speech. What is the place of restorative justice in this sea of liberated students and challenging ideas? This chapter aims to assist the Handbook’s ambitions for pushing the boundaries of criminology by presenting original evidence from a restorative justice project that was applied for student misconduct, ranging from academic dishonesty to violent assault. The project was run in the US, and this chapter will present some of its findings while also reviewing recent research on how restorative justice might meet the needs of harmed parties and foster student development. Finally, this chapter will also explore promising applications of restorative justice to contentious campus issues, including race relations and sexual assault. It will also look at the potential of restorative justice to address faculty or staff conflict and misconduct.
