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Austrailian study on restorative sentencing alternative

By Douglas A. Berman

This brief story from Austrailia suggests that a restorative justice process, known as sentencing circles, have not proven to be more effective at reducing recidivism than traditional sentencing processes:A new report has found circle sentencing does not reduce the risk of reoffending by Aboriginal offenders. Circle sentencing is an alternative method of sentencing that involves the offender's community in the process. The director of the Bureau of Crime Research and Statistics, Don Weatherburn, says the program needs to be strengthened if it is going to be effective. "I think there was enormous hope that if Aboriginal offenders were brought before members of their own community, they would sit up and take more notice than if they were brought before a white magistrate or a white judge," he said...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on July 16, 2008 (boomark / email).