Abstract
We begin with a brief introduction to restorative justice norms and practices, followed by an analytical discussion of the roles court and corrections professionals play in the conventional criminal justice system. Next we turn to a more detailed presentation of the restorative justice critique of the criminal justice system and its implications for professional roles. We then introduce two functioning restorative justice programs, "Passages" in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Reparative Probation in Vermont. Moving back and forth between restorative justice theory and our case analysis, we identify patterns in the emerging roles of what we call by the somewhat oxymoronic term "restorative justice professionals." From interviews with participants in both programs and from our direct observations, we explore how practicing professionals committed to restorative justice conceive of their roles and how these differ from those in the conventional criminal justice process. Finally, we draw some conclusions about the tensions evident in these emerging roles.
Recommended Citation
Olsen, Susan M. and Dzur, Albert W.
(2003)
"Reconstructing Professional Roles in Restorative Justice Programs,"
Utah Law Review: Vol. 2003:
No.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://dc.law.utah.edu/ulr/vol2003/iss1/4