Lessons from a restorative circles initiative for intimate partner violence

Abstract

There is much debate about the appropriateness of using restorative justice (RJ) to address intimate partner violence (IPV). This qualitative research examines a restorative pilot programme in Minnesota specifically designed for cases of partner violence. The programme involved separate restorative processes for each party—sentencing circles for offenders and support circles for victims. It enlisted the help of family and community members to disrupt abusive patterns. The programme appeared to decrease violent actions of offenders and increase safety, social support and material resources for some victims. The results offer useful lessons for the development of RJ practices for partner violence, including how to integrate the values and practices of RJ with those of the battered women's movement.