Organisational Abuses and Restorative Justice

The previous Working Group on Restorative Justice and Institution discussed several definitions of ‘institution’ and ‘organisation’ and came to the conclusion that the term "organisation" is broader and more inclusive than "institution," encompassing both formal and informal entities. This allows us to engage with a wider range of actors involved in restorative justice, not limited to formal institutions.

The broad definition of organisations comprises, but is not limited to, governmental and non-governmental organisations, including democratic assemblies and police and military bodies; charitable, religious and business organisations; sporting institutions and organisations; and, regulatory bodies, whether statutory or non-statutory.

The phenomenon of harm involving institutions has at least three facets:

1. It raises questions of justice internally for victims and direct perpetrators in the organisations.
2. It raises the issue of organisational cultures and values that are deliberately or unconsciously abusive.
3. It involves the nature of the conduct of organisations towards its external stakeholders and to the public at large.

It is acknowledged that the principles of restorative justice need to be articulated in such ways that they must meet the needs of victims and the public, taking into account of course also the rights and guarantees for the accused. 

This Working Group explores the application of restorative justice within and towards organisations. This includes addressing harm, abuse, violence, deviance, and errors within institutional settings while also analyzing how restorative approaches reshape our understanding of organisations themselves. The interplay between restorative justice and organisational frameworks offers a deeper insight into the roles of victims, perpetrators, bystanders, and policymakers, as well as the systemic factors influencing harm and responses. Our work spans various sectors, including education, criminal justice, healthcare, sports, media, and religious institutions.

• Institution/Organisation: A structured entity, public or private, that establishes norms, roles, and decision-making processes. This includes schools, prisons, corporations, religious institutions, government bodies, and more.
• Harm within Organisations: The various forms of wrongdoing—ranging from abuse and systemic failure to unethical practices—that impact individuals, groups, and communities within institutional settings.
• Layers of Impact: Harm in institutions operates on multiple, interconnected levels—individual (victims, perpetrators, bystanders), relational (colleagues, leadership, affected communities), and systemic (policy failures, governance, culture).
• Restorative Justice addressing harm within organisations: A restorative justice approach that addresses the multiple layers of harm.

January 2025 -  June 2027

• Ivo Aertsen 
• Francesca Bertelli 
• Janine Carroll 
• Daniela Gaddi 
• Lucy Jaffé 
• Marie Keenan 
• Lili Lapouge 
• Claudia Mazzucato 
• Sara Rocchi 
• Alexia Stouraiti
• Gemma Varona Martínez 
• Secretariat Representative: Laura Hein, EFRJ Policy Officer

Building on the work carried out by the group since 2021, the current objectives are:

• Further explore the role of restorative justice in organisational settings, examining both its applications and its capacity to transform institutional cultures and practices.
• Develop responses to harm within organisations, ensuring that restorative justice offers meaningful solutions for cases of abuse, corruption, misconduct, and deviant behavior.
• Finalize and disseminate the academic publication and the practitioner’s handbook, which aim to consolidate the group’s findings and practical applications.
• Pilot and test restorative justice responses in organisational contexts, gathering evidence on their effectiveness and adaptability.
• Create training opportunities for professionals working in and with organisations to support the implementation of restorative approaches.
• Align with international and EU policies, contributing to broader discussions on justice, governance, and institutional responsibility.
• Strengthen collaboration with other EFRJ working groups and committees, leveraging synergies and shared areas of interest.
• Ensure sustainability of the group’s work beyond its formal mandate, securing long-term impact through concrete outputs (books, handbooks, research), funding opportunities, and ongoing engagement with key stakeholders.

Ivo Aertsen (Belgium), Emeritus professor, KU Leuven

Razwana Abdul Rahim Begum (Singapore), Head Public Safety and Security Programme and Military Studies Minor, Singapore University of Social Sciences

Francesca Bertelli (Italy), Research Fellow, University of Brescia

Tim Chapman (UK), Visiting Professor University of Strathclyde

Marie Keenan (Ireland), Associate Professor, University College Dublin

Claudia Mazzucato (Italy), Associate Professor of Criminal Law, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, chair of the WG 

Caroline Petruzzi McHale (France), Lawyer/Avocate (NY, Paris) & Founder, Studio Vivace

Silvia Randazzo (Belgium), Independent consultant on child justice and child protection, vice-chair of the WG

Anneke Van Hoek (the Netherlands), Manager and Cofounder, Restorative Justice Nederland

Gemma Varona (Spain), Senior Researcher and Professor, Basque Institute of Criminology at the University of the Basque Country

Representative of the Secretariat: Laura Hein (laura.hein@euforumrj.org) 

 Robert Mackay (UK), Associate, Restorative Justice for All International Institute, initatior and chair of the WG 2021- 2023

Sophie Grimbert Tweed (France), Youth Labs Coordinator, French Ministry of Justice, regional hubs and French national education schools

Caroline Petrilla (US), Special projects, Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.