Restorative justice and domestic violence: some exploratory thoughts

Restorative justice as a framework for working with victims and offenders in the aftermath of crime has been adopted in a variety of processes and contexts over the years. This focus critically examines the restorative justice approach in criminal justice with special reference to its applicability to domestic violence cases. Despite the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act of 1998, violence against women in South Africa continues unabated. The second part of the focus outlines specific provisions in the Act and proposes possibilities for integration of restorative principles. The focus concludes that a prerequisite for successful integration of restorative options is the development of regulatory frameworks and minimum standards in restorative justice practice.