{"title":"Prosecutorial reform from within: district attorney ‘Disruptors’ and other change agents, 2016–2020","authors":"Jennifer M. Balboni, Randall Grometstein","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1783255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783255","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Prior to 2016, the push for prosecutorial reform came from many different corners: legislators, nonprofits, and the larger community discontented with the justice system. In many ways, Trump’s campaign and election may have accelerated efforts to reform District Attorney offices across the country. With 51 decidedly progressive candidates winning office since 2016, it’s clear there is momentum for substantive change. Through an examination of policy statements and media coverage, this paper will examine the qualitative research question of what the scope of the District Attorney reform movement is; we posit a continuum of reformers, from the ‘disruptor’ (who wants to fundamentally change multiple structural components of the system) to the ‘pruner’ (whose reform intent is more circumscribed). First, we examine the role of the prosecutor, prior efforts at reform, and the federal landscape as it relates to change. We then examine the push for prosecutorial reform – from within – from these newly elected DA’s who have taken office since 2016, and consider their agendas, as well as the headwinds these prosecutors face as they try to make the changes they are promising.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783255","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49583103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"‘I see all the life’: designing spaces of respite for survivors of violence","authors":"Barb Toews","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1783256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783256","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Millions of people in the United States and Canada survive violent victimization each year, many of whom then engage in the justice process. Like the justice process, the design of courthouses offers little to attend to the needs of victims, especially those related to emotions and the need for respite during the proceedings. This study explored the design of a respite space for survivors which they could visit while they attended court. This qualitative study used imagery-based research methods to interview violence survivors and professionals dedicated to serving victims. Results show that survivors desire designs that revolve around eight themes: familial fellowship, natural life, paths, comfy and worn, child-welcoming, cultural and spiritual, knowledge and growth, and home. Implications for the design of justice spaces and restorative justice practices are discussed.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783256","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42182508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The conditions for progressive rights to bring about social change","authors":"Lin Liu","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1783254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783254","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT One of the major focuses of law and society studies is to illustrate how progressive rights could become an effective agent of progressive social change. Two perspectives of research have emerged in this field, with one underscoring the processual effect of progressive rights and the other highlighting the structural dimension of rights’ effect. Numerous case studies have been done by scholars from either the processual or structural camp. However, limited efforts have been made to evaluate a right’s processual and structural influence simultaneously. The current study fills this literature gap. First, I illustrate the criteria used to evaluate the processual and structural effect of a right, respectively. Then in a case study focusing on Affirmative Action Right, I apply the two sets of criteria in the assessment of the strengths as well as drawbacks of Affirmative Action Right. This study demonstrates that rights’ influence is multi-dimensional, and the structural dimension of influence is contingent on a set of conditions that are distinct from the conditions for the processual level of effect.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783254","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44271183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The #MeToo movement and restorative justice: exploring the views of the public","authors":"Inbal Peleg-Koriat, Carmit Klar-Chalamish","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1783257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783257","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The study examined ‘the day after’ the #MeToo protest, and proposes channeling the outcry of millions of women toward developing and establishing alternative mechanisms for dealing with sexual offences, focusing on restorative justice conferencing. A mixed-methods design (quantitative and qualitative) was employed to empirically examine the public’s attitude toward the #MeToo movement and restorative-justice in sexual offence cases. The findings (n = 252) revealed that the majority of the public supports the #MeToo movement, but not publications that name alleged offenders. Higher levels of support were found among women and people who define themselves as sexual offence victims. A positive correlation was found between support for the #MeToo movement and support for restorative-justice in sexual offence cases. To better understand the quantitative findings, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 participants. Analysis of the interviews showed that the public acknowledges the importance of the movement, especially due to the widespread discussion on sexual offences and their implications, giving voice to victims, and the possibility that this will help their coping and healing process. Similarly, proponents of restorative justice view the process as an opportunity to conduct a meaningful dialogue, allowing victims to sound their voice and act in a way that suits them.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783257","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43717462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Possibilities of prison-based restorative justice: transformation beyond recidivism","authors":"Karen Ross, Denise Muro","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1783258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783258","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Research on restorative justice in prison settings has focused largely on the relationship between restorative and criminal justice, or on the potential of such programs to reduce recidivism rates among participants. Little research focuses on possible other transformations that restorative justice can engender among incarcerated individuals. We address this gap by describing the outcomes of an evaluation of Mending Bridges, a restorative justice program implemented at three men’s correctional institutions in New England. Our research points to the transformative potential of this program, not only among individuals but also in changing behaviors and relationships that have an impact on the prison community as a whole.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1783258","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59784957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Responding to hate incidents on university campuses: benefits and barriers to establishing a restorative justice programme","authors":"Liyana Kayali, M. Walters","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1762492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1762492","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study examines staff and student perspectives of the use of restorative justice approaches to respond to student-on-student hate crime, hate incidents, and hate speech on university campuses. It draws on qualitative data collated over a one-year period, during the design and establishment of a restorative programme entitled ‘Restore Respect’ at two UK universities. Highlighting examples of students’ experiences of prejudice and hate across the two universities, we outline some of the key barriers to reporting associated with conventional university responses, as well as staff and student views of establishing a new restorative approach to addressing incidents. While early-stage evaluation revealed certain cultural and institutional barriers and limitations to the establishment and operation of a restorative programme, the majority of staff and students viewed it as an effective way of addressing hate-based conduct that would provide greater opportunity for more positive interventions and outcomes. The paper concludes by arguing for a renewed effort to move beyond standard institutional responses to student experiences of hate and prejudice at university through the adoption of restorative, needs-centred approaches.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1762492","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43691235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Institutionalising restorative justice in the police: key findings from a study of two English police forces","authors":"I. Marder","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1755847","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1755847","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports the findings of an empirical research project, exploring ongoing attempts to mainstream restorative justice within two English police forces and examining how the police understo...","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1755847","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44320702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The other side of assimilation: how immigrants are changing American life","authors":"D. Piacenti","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1761230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1761230","url":null,"abstract":"The Other Side of Assimilation: How Immigrants are Changing American Life focuses on three distinct, yet interrelated immigrant communities in and around San Jose, California; Cupertino, East Palo ...","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1761230","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48111458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heather L. Scheuerman, Talia N. Gilbert, Shelley Keith, Karen A. Hegtvedt
{"title":"Discerning justice: clarifying the role of procedural and interactional justice in restorative conferencing","authors":"Heather L. Scheuerman, Talia N. Gilbert, Shelley Keith, Karen A. Hegtvedt","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1755843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1755843","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Research suggests that offenders perceive restorative justice (RJ) conferences as more just and reintegrative than standard court proceedings. Yet, little research focuses on how the nature of the offense may affect these social psychological processes, and studies that investigate how offenders perceive justice typically examine justice in general, not specific types (procedural vs. interactional). Using data from the Australian Reintegrative Shaming Experiments (RISE), we find that offense type is differentially associated with types of justice and shaming perceptions, demonstrating the need to distinguish between interactional and procedural justice to understand how various offenders experience the RJ conference.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1755843","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48876115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lethal leverage: false confessions, false pleas, and wrongful homicide convictions in death-eligible cases","authors":"Karcin Vick, K. Cook, Meghan L. Rogers","doi":"10.1080/10282580.2020.1755845","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2020.1755845","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Substantial attention to wrongful convictions has been developing since the 1990s. This research examines known cases of exonerations and factors that contribute to known wrongful convictions. The issues explored include false confessions, false guilty pleas, and death jurisdiction that impact known wrongful homicide convictions. Literature shows that false confessions can affect relationships with defense attorneys, jury perceptions, other evidentiary analyses, and sentencing outcomes. This research measures the effect of death-eligibility on false confessions and guilty pleas and how those admissions of guilt affect the likelihood of receiving a death sentence. Using data from the National Registry of Exonerations, we estimate probabilities of false confessions, guilty pleas, and death sentences based on multiple predictor variables. Results reveal three major findings. First, African Americans accused of homicide in known wrongful conviction cases, where the homicide victims were mostly female, where false and misleading forensic evidence and official misconduct were present, are statistically most likely to have falsely confessed. Second, guilty pleas were mostly likely produced in death-eligible jurisdictions, net of control factors. And third, death sentences were most likely to have been imposed on male exonerees where the homicide victims were mostly female, where official misconduct was present, and who had falsely confessed.","PeriodicalId":10583,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Justice Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10282580.2020.1755845","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42864809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}