The Ins and Outs of Signals of Forgiveness in Restorative Justice

Abstract

Forgiveness has at least two parties involved: the person who has harmed and the person who has been harmed. In restorative justice it is the dyadic interaction between the harmed and the harmer, facilitated by the mediator/facilitator which is central: the communication in terms of questions and judgements about the past, willingness to interact in the present and intent for the future. Yet there is a potential army of others waiting in the wings and potentially 'hearing' that communication: supporters and those close to both harmer and harmed, the community or communities into which the harmer (and the harmed) need to re-find their place, and powerful voices (such as the media) on what is seen to be the moral order of those communities. It has been said that a criminal offence causes ripples of concern and potentially fear spreading out from the offence into the community. Can and should forgiveness be seen similarly - and what effects may this ‘forgiveness ripple’ have on the person harmed, the person who has harmed and the community?