This book systematically introduces the practice of restorative justice in India, as a resource for comparative criminal justice research. Restorative justice focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims, and with the community at large. It has gained momentum as a justice reform movement in Western countries within the past three decades, and it is estimated that up to one hundred countries worldwide utilize restorative justice practices. Within Western countries, it is seen largely a response or alternative to the perceived deficiencies of the existing criminal justice system.

India has a rich tradition of restorative justice, and this work introduces both the traditional basis and contemporary practices of this justice system in India, in a comprehensive and systematic way.

The contributions to this work cover three main areas:

I. The Tradition of Restorative Justice in India

II. The Development of Restorative Justice in India

III. Restorative Justice Practices in India

The third part - Practices covers special topics: including Restorative Justice and the Court, Restorative Justice and Incarceration, Restorative Justice and Juveniles, and Restorative Justice and Woman.

The book covers the full range of the issues of restorative justice in India and will be a highly valuable resource book for researchers and upper level graduate students interested in alternative justice models in general, comparative criminology, and criminal justice in India specifically.

A landmark volume in the history of restorative justice and criminology in India. Many outstanding scholars in this collection outline the Indian experience of restorative justice from which the world has much to learn.

John Braithwaite

Australian National University