Week 6 Discussion - Community Receptiveness to Restorative Justice

WK6: Discussion: Community Receptiveness to Restorative Justice

Week 6: Future Applications of Restorative Justice

Suppose you were charged with implementing a restorative justice program in your community. Would community members be receptive to the approach, or would they argue that a “tough on crime” approach is more effective?

This week, you consider the factors that affect a community’s willingness to consider restorative justice as an option. You also reflect on what you learned about restorative justice in this course and consider how you would apply your new knowledge to your professional and personal life.

Learning Objectives

Analyze political, social, and cultural factors that affect a community’s receptiveness to restorative justice

Argue the benefits of restorative justice compared to a “tough on crime” approach

Apply restorative justice principles to professional and personal life

Discussion: Community Receptiveness to Restorative Justice

Historically, the perceived solution to the presence of or increase in crime has been a “tough on crime” approach—that is, enact stricter laws and dole out harsher sentences. While the “tough on crime” approach is not as widely accepted as it used to be, key political, social, and cultural factors drive this perspective in some communities more than others. Unfortunately, this perspective is often at odds with the restorative justice approach.

In this Discussion, you examine the political, social, and cultural factors that affect a community’s receptiveness to restorative justice. You also formulate a response to a community member who insists on a “tough on crime” approach, using what you have learned about restorative justice in this course.

Post a response that addresses the following:

How do political, social, and cultural factors affect a community’s receptiveness to a restorative justice approach?

Is your community receptive to a restorative justice approach? Why or why not?

If you were confronted by a community member who insisted that a “tough on crime” approach works best, how would you respond given what you have learned in this course?