Can restorative justice satisfy victims' needs? Evaluation of the Catalan victim–offender mediation programme. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tamarit, Josep; Luque, Eulalia
• Is Part Of: Restorative justice. Volume 4:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Penal mediation -- restorative justice -- victimology -- victims' needs; Restorative justice -- Periodicals; Social justice -- Periodicals; 364.68
• DOI: 10.1080/20504721.2015.1110887
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-473X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article presents the results of a quantitative investigation to evaluate a penal mediation programme conducted in Catalonia. We assessed the degree to which the programme is able to achieve the objectives of restorative justice from the point of view of victims' needs. The study basically confirmed the results obtained in other countries, underlining how the mediation process contributes to the emotional recovery of victims. After analysing the different factors involved, we have highlighted the capacity of restorative processes to provide victims with a better sense of justice than the criminal justice system both in terms of the procedural and therapeutic dimensions of justice.