Restorative Justice to Address Domestic Violence in the Context of the U.S. Criminal Legal System

Abstract

Restorative justice has emerged as an approach to address the inequities and other structural problems that the U.S. criminal justice system has been criticized for. Evidence from a diverse range of studies supports the idea that restorative justice can serve as a viable alternative to increase victim satisfaction and reduce recidivism. This article explores how and against what background restorative justice has grown in the U.S. criminal justice system in recent years, examines the use of restorative justice in cases involving domestic violence, and provides an outlook on issues related to its further expansion.