Surfing the Crime Net: Restorative Justice

Abstract

Up until this point, Surfing the Crime Net has directed its attention towards the prevalence and quality of World Wide Web sites on specific criminal justice questions in terms of research interest for academics and practitioners. This edition of Crime Net shifts its perspective to consider some of the issues involved in using the Web as an educational resource and tool, particularly its value for distance and professional learning. There is still a substantive topic discussed, that of restorative justice resources available over the Web, but they will be presented in terms of seeking to consider forms of electronic delivery for learners. Within this context, we will be assessing the justification for employing computer-based learning techniques at a pedagogical level, as well as some of the theoretical and practical considerations involved in structuring electronic delivery in a distance learning format. The overarching theme involves understanding Web-based learning not as an automatic solution to the distance learning question, but as a process or methodology which, when employed appropriately, has the potential to provide learners with a rich, contextual and authentic learning experience about restorative justice.