Post-Sentence Mediation – Its Rationale and Importance in the Light of the Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. A Look from the Perspective of a Catholic Country

Abstract

Victim-offender mediation in enforcement proceedings is a new challenge for the justice system in Poland and many countries around the world. The number of such mediations is currently very small. The lack of appropriate regulations and enthusiasm among representatives of the studies and its practitioners make it difficult to search for a way to popularize a conciliatory attitude in enforcement proceedings. The authors of this publication seek arguments in favour of post-sentence mediation in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. The importance of faith and religion in the lives of many people (including convicts) and an analysis of the texts of Sacred Scripture and statements of clergymen on forgiveness and satisfaction allow us to be optimistic about the Church’s efforts to encourage the implementation of principles so important to restorative justice.