Abstract

This comprehensive guide provides an accessible introduction to the philosophy of restorative justice and its practical application in a wide range of settings, showing how it can help both victims and offenders when harm has been done.

Drawing on many years' experience of working in victim support, probation, mediation and restorative practices, Marian Liebmann uses pertinent case examples to illustrate how restorative justice can be used effectively to work with crime and its effects. Also included are sections on confronting bullying in schools, dealing with sexual and racial violence, tackling antisocial behaviour and community reconciliation after war. Whether in the context of families, schools, communities, criminal justice or prisons, the author argues that restorative justice is a `seamless philosophy' which can be applied flexibly to meet diverse needs. Liebmann provides an international outlook, examining how restorative justice is practised around the world, including traditional Maori and Aboriginal approaches.

Restorative Justice: How It Works is a key reference for magistrates, social workers, probation officers, Youth Offending Team workers, police, teachers and health professionals, as well as the lay reader.

Marian Liebmann, already well-known in the field of restorative justice (RJ) here surveys modern RJ, from its origins in Canada more than 30 years ago up to 2007. Her experience in teaching, victim support, mediation and RJ itself enables her to give this broad overview, including not only the criminal law sense of the phrase but also restorative processes or practices in many other contexts.
The Friend
The book is easy to read; it is easy to pick up and put down and pick up again to read where I left off. It's a great browsing book and at no time did I feel lost in "academic-speak."
Carrie J Reid, PhD(Cand), RCAT
It is a joy to read a carefully considered and crafted book by an author who is a leader in their field. This is all the more so when you are being led from a state of uncertain ignorance in the subject, through to that satisfying feeling of being able to know that by the end you have some grip on the topic...Art therapy is one of Marian's passions, and her expertise and appreciation of its transformative power leaps from these pages...By placing people, and not processes, at the centre of justice and demonstrating the effect that art can have on those involved, the restorative approach brings a human element to crime and its effects. And there can be few books better that this one to guide the inquiring mind through that landscape of pain and redemption.
Anne Peaker Centre for Arts
This is an uplifting book. In times when we are constantly assailed on all sides by dreadful news of crimes and wars, it is heartening to read about initiatives that bring reconciliation and reparation, and which are shown to be working. Those who are new to this subject will find this very readable and clearly written book extremely useful. The wealth of examples adds to the interest of the book as well as giving a deeper understanding of the processes involved in RJ, its challenges and potential. The final section which lists useful resources - books, websites and organisations - will be especially valuable to anyone seeking to enter this rewarding field. I strongly recommend this book as an excellent introduction to a topic of ever-growing importance.
Solicitors Journal
What is restorative justice (RJ)? This book is an excellent way to start to find out what it is, and 'what it can do'. This is an uplifting book. In times when we are constantly assailed on all sides by dreadful news of crimes and wars, it is heartending to learn of initiatives that bring reconciliation and reparation, and which are shown to be working. Those who are new to this subject will find this very readable and clearly written book extremely useful. The wealth of examples adds to the interest of the book as well as giving a deeper understanding of the process involved in RJ, its challenges and potential. The final section which lists useful resources - books, web sites and organizations - will be expecially valuable to anyone seeking to enter this rewarding field. I strongly recommend this book as an excellent introduction to a topic of ever-growing importance.
Justice of the Peace
Marian Liebmann's book is an excellent introduction to the field, giving a clear insight into what RJ is and how it works. This is an uplifting book. In times when we are constantly assailed on all sides by dreadful news of crimes and wars, it is heartening to learn to initiatives that bring reconciliation and reparation, and which are shown to be working. Very readable and clearly written book extremely useful. I strongly recommend this book as an excellent introduction to a topic of ever-groing importance.
Coventry University Law Journal
The considerable achievement of this book that it covers a broad international field and explains in detail how restorative justice practice works in different context. Marian Liebmann's book is for practitioners of restorative justice, for those coming to the practice for the first time and for many professionals who need to know about it as it increasingly impinges on their work.
Prison Service Journal
Marian Liebmann has worked in education, art therapy, victim support and probation, and for seven years was director and projects adviser of Mediation UK. She has written and edited nine books in the fields of art therapy, mediation and conflict resolution, including Mediation in Context, Arts Approaches to Conflict, and Art Therapy with Offenders, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She currently divides her time between freelance restorative justice, mediation training and consultancy, art therapy and writing.
Marian Liebmann, already well known in the field of restorative justice (RJ), here surveys modern RJ, from its origins in Canada more than 30 years ago up to 2007. Her experience in teaching, victim support, mediation and RJ itself enables her to give this broad overview, including not only the criminal law sense of the phrase but also restorative processes or practices in many other contexts.
Around Europe
What is restorative justice? This book is an excellent way to start to find out what it is, and what it can do… Those who are new to this subject will find this very readable and clearly written book extremely useful. The wealth of examples adds to the interest of the book as well as giving a deeper understanding of the processes involved in RJ, its challenges and potential. The final section which lists useful resources - books, web sites and organizations - will be especially valuable to anyone seeking to enter this rewarding field. I strongly recommend this book as an excellent introduction to a topic of ever-growing importance.
Justice of the Peace Journal
This is an optimistic book which I am glad to have read.
Quakers In Criminal Justice Newsletter
In recent years,the idea of restorative justice increasingly is on the minds of individuals and societies interested in approaches to justice that focus on restoring victims and communities rather than punishing offenders. Thus, the arrival of Liebmann's recent book on the topic represents a welcome opportunity for a summation of the history and future of the movement both in the United Kingdom, where the author is based, and abroad. Restorative Justice: How it Works aims to be broad in scope and examines restorative justice approaches in diverse contexts, including family,school,community,criminal justice, and prison environments. The Author views her book as having relevance to practitioners as well as to students and others affected by restorative justice, such as teachers and lawyers'.
PsycCritques
This comprehensive guide provides an accessible introduction to the philosophy of restorative justice and its practical application in a wide range of settings, showing how it can help both victims and offenders when harm has been done… Restorative Justice: How It Works is a key reference for magistrates, social workers, probation officers, Youth Offending Team workers, police, teachers and health professionals, as well as the lay reader.
Practice Links
The strength of this book is in its ability to present a considerable amount of information providing a good overview of the development of restorative justice. The book benefits from the provision of examples and methods of practice which further highlight the key debates within restorative justice. One of the key debates is how restorative justice fits within a jurisdiction which views criminal justice as a 'system' rather than a 'process', and in which cultures are entrenched to the extent that there are barriers to utilising some of the benefits of restorative justice. The book would be a very useful addition to any reading list for students of restorative justice, for practitioners and policy makers.
The Howard Journal