Revisiting Informal Justice: Restorative

Justice and Democratic Professionalism

Restorative justice is a form of informal justice growing rapidly among criminal
justice practitioners. It decenters the focus of criminal justice from the offender
breaking a law of the state to the harm caused the victim and community.

Resolution is said to come from offenders taking responsibility and making amends
for the harm done and from communities supporting the victim and providing
offenders with opportunities and skills to reintegrate as contributing members.

Restorative justice theory largely ignores the role of professionals in the criminal
justice process, and yet professionals have played a dominant part in initiating many
restorative justice programs. Several theoretical traditions recognize professionals
as being important intermediaries between citizens and the state.

The theory of democratic professionalism argues that professionals can play crucial
roles in increasing and improving democratic participation in public affairs. This
article examines two functioning restorative justice programs to flesh out what
democratic professionalism might look like in operation what tasks professionals
perform and what citizen involvement means to the professionals.

We argue that restorative justice cannot get along without professionals and that
democratic professionalism may help restorative justice to avoid some of the
problems associated with other approaches to informal justice by increasing true
community participation but balancing it with concern for individuals’ rights.