Exploring perceptions of Restorative Justice implementation : insights from facilitators and offenders at two South African Correctional Centres

Abstract

A dearth in research pertaining to the implementation of Restorative Justice (RJ) in South African Correctional Centres exists. In order to address this research gap and add to the knowledge base, the current study explored and described the perceptions of RJ facilitators pertaining to the implementation of RJ in two selected Correctional Centres and determined if and how victims are included in the RJ programme presented in the two selected Correctional Centres. Furthermore, the experiences of offenders who participated in the RJ programme presented in the two selected Correctional Centres were investigated, and improvement measures for RJ in Correctional Centres were explored and described. This culminated in an integrated framework of best practices pertaining to RJ in Correctional Centres. John Braithwaite’s Reintegrative Shaming theory, Paul McCold and Ted Wachtel’s Conceptual theory of RJ, Howard Zehr’s RJ framework, and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Systems theory guided the study.

To achieve the aim and objectives of the study, a qualitative research approach was applied. Data collection methods included two focus group discussions (one for Gauteng and one for the Western Cape) with a total of twelve RJ programme facilitators from NGOs and FBOs who are involved in the facilitation of RJ programmes in Correctional Centres. Furthermore, twelve offenders from Correctional Centre A and seventeen offenders from Correctional Centre B participated in personal (face-to-face) interviews guided by a semi-structured interview guide. By utilising Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to reflexive thematic analysis, themes and sub-themes of the experiences of the RJ programme facilitators and offenders were developed.

The findings indicated that although RJ has a distinctly positive impact, various improvement measures are needed with regard to the practical implementation thereof. RJ programme facilitators had consensus that RJ programmes that are implemented in Correctional Centres have a restorative nature; however, improvement measures are needed, including financing of NGOs and FBOs to facilitate these programmes, a larger group of facilitators, training of correctional officials, and the creation of a victim centre to focus on victim tracing. Offenders participating in RJ programmes agreed that additional facilitators are required, but placed more focus on a longer programme and extending the lessons of RJ to environments other than Correctional Centres to increase the chances of a fully restorative process. It furthermore became evident that although RJ programmes presented at Correctional Centres hold the same goals, they are not implemented in the same manner at different Correctional Centres. The integrated framework provided in the concluding chapter of this thesis is an attempt to propose a research-informed RJ programme that can be presented in South African Correctional Centres in order to achieve a standardised response to restore justice between offenders and their victims.