Victims and Restorative Justice

Prof Carolyn Hoyle

This course will examine the development of victimology and, in particular, the developing role of victims within the criminal process, in the UK and in other jurisdictions. In doing so, it will encourage students to think beyond the rather narrow definition of 'victims' under consideration in the development of victim policy to look at how society responds to victims of atypical crimes and offenders who are, in many respects, victims. One of the main responses to the needs of victims has been restorative justice - a term of unsettled meaning, but seen as encompassing a diverse and developing set of values, processes and aims which share an orientation towards repairing the harm caused by crime and giving a voice to victims. The most well-known restorative processes involve victims and offenders coming face-to-face to discuss the offence, the harm it caused, and how this might be put right. This course considers the role of victims, offenders and communities, integrating theoretical and empirical knowledge and sociological critiques of different restorative approaches. It also tackles such difficult philosophical questions as whether restorative justice can operate satisfactorily when power imbalances between offenders and victims are great, as in cases of domestic or sexual violence or crimes against humanity.

Schedule of Seminars

1. Identifying the victim
2. Victims of miscarriages of justice
3. Experience of victims and offenders with learning disabilities
4. The participation of victims in the criminal process
5. Restorative Justice: from philosophy to practice
6. Victims in post-conflict justice
7. New challenges for Restorative Justice
8. A Debate: Can Restorative Justice satisfy victims’ needs and expectations?