Restorative Justice and Sexual Assault: Outcome Appraisal Through Textual Analysis

Abstract

Restorative Justice is a community alternative to criminal justice. Its principles and practices are grounded in harm reduction, consensually-determined reparation, and in many applications, a facilitated conference between an of- fender and respective victim, and family members and/or community persons impacted by the crime. Projects based on Restorative Justice are rare for sex offenders. In this article, we review one such program funded as a demonstration pro- ject. Based on the rubric that we adapted from a template developed by Stephen Webster, we assessed the veracity of apology letters written by adult sex offenders, who earned the right to apologize to their victim, following participation in a 12-month program based on principles and practices of Restorative Justice. Content of the apology letters demonstrated anticipated changes in classic features of sexual assault as a harm-causing, ego-centered, trauma-producing, control- seeking, relationship-imposing act. Despite individualized formulation by each responsible person, the letters from mis- demeanor and felony cases were similar in acknowledgment of harm and in the articulation of gratitude, but varied in re- sponsibility acceptance and trauma discontinuation.