Justice From the Victim’s Perspective

TLDR

The study explores how victims of violent crime define justice and whether their perspectives align with conventional or restorative justice frameworks. The author conducted in-depth interviews with 22 violent‑crime victims to address these questions. Victims’ conceptions of justice do not fit neatly into retributive or restorative models, raising concerns for the application of restorative approaches in violence‑against‑women cases.

Abstract

What are the meanings of justice, as seen from the perspective of victims of violent crime? Are victims’ visions of justice represented by the conventional legal system? Are they represented by restorative justice? The author engages these questions, drawing on in-depth interviews with 22 victims of violent crime. It is argued that survivors’ views of justice do not fit well into either retributive or restorative models. This has implications for current efforts to use restorative models in cases of violence against women.