Restorative Justice According to Cook and Powell

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Summary: Cook and Powell
In chapter 4, Cook and Powell explore how to handle offenders (83-100). One pertinent question they seek to answer is, how best should the justice system treat offenders? In addition, they seek to answer the question of whether traditional justice systems have a relationship with restorative justice and whether the two can collaborate. They also look at alternative methods that can serve justice instead of court processes. Before answering those questions, they define what restorative justice is.
According to the authors, restorative justice is a new concept or pattern of thinking about crime and its after-effects. They assert that some advocates contend that encouraging the emotional presence of offenders and victims is the best way to serve their needs and interests instead of processing cases through courts (Cook and Powell 83). This is because courts adopt an imposing and intimidating disposition. They also argue that factoring in personal "accountability" and combined perspectives on how to repair the damage is paramount. One critical issue the authors raise is the effectiveness of punitive responses. They contend that following that route does more harm than good; it compounds matters. As such, they implicitly implore justice systems to think outside the box and embrace more agreeable approaches, such as restorative justice.
Restorative Justice and Research Methods
In conventional justice systems, the laws applied are rigid, and processes are regimented. In addition, offenders are treated with heightened skepticism and suspicion besides being intimidated. According to the authors, these are the anomalies that restorative justice seeks to address. In making the theory a success, several methods are implemented.
The first concept involves accountability, whereby offenders acknowledge their offenses and the damages they have caused. They get assurances that they will not be subject to punitive measures, which gives them the impetus and confidence to own up (Cook and Powell 87). If committing an offense is dehumanizing, then accountability seeks to reverse it after recognition. In addition, accountability helps victims and offenders get a better perspective of each other by discussing the harm done. In a word, accountability recognizes that offenders are human beings and should also be treated with decorum ...