Restorative Justice and Substance Abuse

Abstract

In bringing together restorative justice and adolescent treatment, a dialogue has been created between two fields that have developed quite separately. This dialogue is just beginning, and there remain many paths to follow up, many fault lines to explore. Following a clarification about the basic concept of restorative justice, this article explores paths that might benefit from further exploration such as concepts of harms, causes, and obligations; offenders as victims; shame and vindication; and the fundamental and guiding questions of restorative justice. Possible fault lines and dangers, such as co-optation and victim exclusion, are explored. The article concludes with suggestions for ways to stay true to the restorative justice vision through attention to values and evaluation, revisioning the role of the “expert” and the language of respect.