When My Community Met the Other: Competing Concepts of "Community" in Restorative Justice

In restorative justice theory, the concept of "community" looms large, since it is the locus of the very restoration to which this form of justice aspires. The questions that then raise themselves are: what is this "community" and how is this community rebuilt through the more relational and dialogical process of restorative justice? In investigating one restorative justice panel program in the United States, it becomes clear that "community" means different things to different individuals. Questioning the possibility of a locally-sanctioned version of justice, this study suggests that the starting point of including "community" in restorative justice should be re-thought.