Restorative Justice in a Prison Community - by Cheryl Swanson (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book provides a unique perspective on how restorative justice works in an actual prison setting. Theory, practice, research findings, and the illustration of concepts through inmate writings make this an excellent vehicle for learning more about alternatives to our presen...

Book Synopsis

This book provides a unique perspective on how restorative justice works in an actual prison setting. Theory, practice, research findings, and the illustration of concepts through inmate writings make this an excellent vehicle for learning more about alternatives to our present approach to crime and punishment.

Review Quotes

This is the rare book that allows one to use the words "prison" and "hope" in the same sentence. Carefully researched but engaging, it is of value to those outside and as well as those inside our prisons.

Through interviews and questionnaires, Swanson presents a lively, carefully etched picture of inmates in a restorative justice dorm at an Alabama prison. Recommended.

Unlike many researchers in criminal justice, Cheryl Swanson has left the ivory tower to observe the day-to-day life inside a state prison and conducted extensive interviews with real offenders and prison staff. Her analysis of the impact of restorative justice on both the inmates and the institutional staff is thus that much more valid. This book should be a "must read" for anyone contemplating a career in criminal justice.

We clearly know that what we are doing now in our national correctional system is not working. Bringing victims driven restorative justice into our prisons will lead to lower recidivism rates, safer communities, and the chance for crime victims to heal after violent crime. Projects like this should be tested and piloted, and Swanson's book is an important evaluation of this new approach to incarceration at one correctional unit in the state of Alabama. The question is why aren't we testing similar prison projects nationwide?

About the Author

Cheryl Swanson is associate professor in the division of criminal justice and legal studies at the University of West Florida.