Ambitions and Critiques of Restorative Justice Post COVID-19

Theo Gavrielides

doi:10.3390/laws11010006

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only change how we work with others and deliver public services, but also our very way of living. Furthermore, the way we view and experience conflict and violence will never be the same. Therefore, changes anticipated in relation to justice and criminal justice will be unprecedented, with criminal justice institutions such as prisons, courts and probation to be reviewed whether for financial, political or health and safety-related reasons. This Editorial introduces this Special Issue, which focuses on highlighting both the ambitions but also critiques of the role that restorative justice can play in the post COVID-19 era.

Highlights

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We have enough evidence to substantially claim that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a series of long-lasting socio-economic and health impacts (Gavrielides 2021; Bernadas and Yarcia 2021), some even warning that this impact is comparable only with the one that followed World War II (Gavrielides 2021)
Scientists at Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science released data suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered life expectancy losses not seen since World War II in Western Europe, and exceeded those observed around the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc in central and Eastern European countries (Aburto et al 2021)

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. I claim that, along with these impacts, COVID-19 has brought a change in how conflict and violence are viewed and experienced, and the need to adapt the way they are managed.

Results

Conclusion