Part 1 Setting the scene: introducing restorative justice, Daniel Van Ness, Allison Morris, Gabrielle Maxwell; on restoration and punishment - favourable similarities and fortunate differences, Lode Walgrave. Part 2 Describing restorative practices: primary restorative justice practices, Paul McCold; conferencing in Australia and New Zealand - variations, research findings and prospects, Kathleen Daly; restorative justice and family group conferences in England - current state and future prospects, Jim Dignan and Peter Marsh; conferencing in South Africa - returning to our future, Ann Skelton and Cheryl Frank; victim impact of meeting with young offenders - two decades of victim offender mediation practice and research, Mark S. Umbreit, Robert B. Coates and Betty Vos; mediation in Europe - paradoxes, problems and promises, Elmar G. M. Weitekamp; circle sentencing - part of the restorative justice continuum, Heino Lilles. Part 3 Critical issues in restorative justice: justice for victims of young offenders - the centrality of emotional harm and restoration, Heather Strang; just cops doing "shameful" business? police-led restorative justice and the lessons of research, Richard Young; aboriginal youth and restorative justice - critical notes from the Australian frontier, Harry Blagg; family group conferences and reoffending, Gabrielle Maxwell and Allison Morris. Part 4 What next for restorative justice?: implementing restorative justice - what works?, Allison Morris and Gabrielle Maxwell.

Internationally, there is now an acceptance of the need to develop new strategies in criminal justice which reflect restorative justice principles. This book provides an up to date and critical account of recent developments.