Restorative Justice Research Unit

The Restorative Justice Research Unit (RJRU) incorporates all aspects of restorative justice in the criminal justice system, including research into various aspects of imprisonment as well as the use of restorative processes in the workplace, schools and community. The RJRU incorporates all aspects of restorative justice in the criminal justice system, including research into various aspects of imprisonment as well as the use of restorative processes in the workplace, schools and community. The Unit also focuses on the use of restorative justice processes as a tool to promote healing within Indigenous communities impacted by intergenerational trauma, violence and child sexual abuse.

Core personnel within the unit have extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in the North West of Western Australia, using collaborative Indigenous methodologies to find restorative solutions to local problems. In particular, Dr Brian Steels, has worked intensively with local Indigenous people in the Pilbara, developing a communitarian restorative justice model for use where criminal activity has fractured relationships. In addition Dr Dot Goulding and Dr Steels have worked collaboratively with both government and non government organisations to promote and develop restorative practices in South Australia, Victoria, ACT and New South Wales.

Most notably, Dr Goulding and Dr Steels developed, serviced and researched a ground breaking communitarian model of restorative and transformative justice which was used in local Magistrates' courts in Fremantle and Perth with serious and repeat adult offenders facing custodial sentences. At the time of the study, this robust practice had not been used anywhere in Australia with adult offenders on serious charges. Importantly, several offences related to domestic and family violence were dealt with restoratively within this study, demonstrating remarkable outcomes. The project evaluation, led by Guy Hall, identified several socially significant factors and, according to Professor John Braithwaite (ANU), the restorative and transformative model was indeed groundbreaking, particularly given the substantially reduced levels of neutralisation in offenders.

In addition to their local and national links, Dr Goulding and Dr Steels together with Guy Hall have developed strong relationships with several internationally recognised organisations, experts, practitioners and policy makers in the area of restorative justice. They have shared their knowledge and experiences of restorative practice and research with the British Home Office; Restorative Justice Consortium, London; Belgian Prison Service; Hertford Constabulary/Thames Valley Police, UK; International Centre for Prison Studies, Kings College London; Penal Reform International, Paris/London; SACRO, Edinburgh; Restorative Justice New Zealand, Christchurch; Project Turnaround, Timaru New Zealand; International Institute for Restorative Justice Conference, Budapest; European Forum for Restorative Justice Conference, Verona.

Restorative Justice Research Unit Aims

To conduct original, groundbreaking research into various aspects of restorative justice processes and prison reform and make available the results of such research to both national and international audiences.
To provide independent program and service evaluation; locally and nationally.
To provide policy advice, locally and nationally, to government organisations on issues related to criminal justice, including restorative and transformative justice, therapeutic jurisprudence and penal reform.
To disseminate information on human rights for people held in custody, taking into consideration international covenants and human rights instruments to which Australia is a signatory and which provide guidance for minimum standards and the underpinning principles on the use of imprisonment.

Research

The RJRU aims to undertake original groundbreaking peer-reviewed research into various aspects of the criminal justice system, including imprisonment; the use of restorative processes in workplace disputes and; the use of restorative justice to combat bullying in schools. RJRU intends to make the results of its academic research available, both nationally and internationally, to government agencies, policy makers, non government organisations, industry professionals, key stakeholders, program and service providers, the media, and the general public. In this way the Unit aims to assist in facilitating a better understanding of the functioning of restorative justice, its purpose and its limitations.

Independent Evaluations

To conduct independent evaluation of policy impact, government and non government services and both community and prison based programs in order to assist in the development of models of best practice.

Policy Advice

RJRU seeks to help governments, government departments and relevant non government organisations develop evidence-based appropriate policies on various aspects of restorative justice, including the establishment of a wholly restorative prison; the use of restorative justice as an alternative to retributive processes within Indigenous communities; the use of restorative justice to resolve workplace disagreements and; the use of restorative justice as a tool to combat school bullying. In addition, RJRU will develop several industry specific training modules for police, magistrates, correction officers, and related non government service providers. This will include gender and culturally appropriate models for use by indigenous people in Indigenous communities.

Human Rights Database

To keep a data base of international covenants and human rights instruments and to disseminate information on international human rights instruments relating to imprisonment and other forms of involuntary detention.

Useful Links

Restorative Justice Research Unit Core Personnel

Dr Brian Steels: Coordinator

For bio see Centre for Social & Community Research staff profiles

Dr Dot Goulding

For bio see Centre for Social & Community Research staff profiles

Mr Guy Hall

Guy Hall is the Associate Dean of Law (Research) at Murdoch University. He is a registered Clinical and Forensic Psychologist who has worked as a psychologist in prisons and more recently as an academic, teaching and undertaking research on prison issues. Guy's research covers penal law, the identification and management of prisoners at risk of suicide and self harm, and intervention with offenders, especially high risk violent offending. With professor Kevin Howells, he was responsible for the development of the Violent Offending Treatment Program for the Department of Corrective services. More recently, Guy has been involved in research on restorative justice processes with Dot Goulding and Brian Steels.