Restorative Justice after Sexual Violence: An International Perspective

The high rate of attrition in sexual violence cases internationally has led to a growing body of legal and social reform aimed at making legal and criminal justice processes more robust, victim-friendly and better able to address the concerns and needs of victims, without infringing on the due process rights of accused persons. Despite these advances and acknowledging the need for further substantive and procedural change in legal and criminal justice provision, this chapter suggests new paths must also be travelled in responding to sexual crime. One such path is restorative justice. In suggesting a role for restorative justice alongside criminal justice, this chapter draws on the research literature and on the experience of one victim of sexual violence who entered a restorative justice process with the man who had offended against her. Ailbhe Griffith’s experience adds to the growing body of case studies demonstrating the wisdom of making restorative justice available for those parties who desire it as part of the suite of justice responses in the aftermath of sexual crime.