The Impact of Restorative Justice on the Development of Guilt, Shame, and Empathy Among Participants in a Victim Impact Training Program

Abstract

Abstract The present study is a panel-design study with the primary goal of examining the effect of a restorative justice program (Victim Impact Training [VIT]) on the development of guilt, shame, and empathy among offenders. The MANCOVA results show no overall significant differences between offenders who participated in the VIT program on their development of guilt, shame, and empathy over time. However, ANCOVA results indicate significant relationships among gender, program type, guilt, shame, and empathy. These findings and their implications are discussed. Keywords: restorative justicevictim impact panelguiltshameempathy Notes 1. Although victims participate as guest speakers, they are not necessarily the victims of the offenders in the program. Since victim participation is voluntary, many victims prefer not to participate and prefer for victim advocate groups to represent them in these types of programs. 2. Due to a shortage of resources (i.e., personnel to conduct classes) many of the counties in Missouri have accommodated the personnel shortage by offering a four-week VIT program. Therefore, the study sample consists of respondents from a four-week and a ten-week VIT program. Since this was not included as part of the overall theoretical argument, program type will be treated as a demographic variable and as a covariate within the MANCOVA model. 3. Due to the low Cronbach's alpha level for the shame sub-scale Behavioral Avoidance, it will not be included in the final analysis. 4. Modifications of the scale were necessary due to the length of the survey and due to the population being surveyed. The scale has been pretested and has demonstrated a consistent Cronbach's alpha in a previous study utilizing this scale (CitationJackson & Bonacker, 2006). The scale is also included in the appendix. 5. Box Test of Equality of Covariance Matrices was significant for MANCOVA testing hypothesis 1; thus, Pillai's Trace is used for interpreting the homogeneity of the regression slopes and subsequent multivariate test. 6. Box Test of Equality of Covariance Matrices was not significant; thus, Wilks' Lambda is used for hypotheses 2 and 3.