The closure factor: an autoethnographical analysis of the justness of restorative justice after murder
Date
2018
Authors
Dietrich, Noelle
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Abstract
Restorative Justice—the face-to-face encounter in particular—is increasingly being used in cases of homicide. The studies conducted on this process have reported victim satisfaction and claims of having been able to attain closure. Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) is now provided through the victim services branch of Justice in spite of a limited understanding of the process itself. This thesis sought to investigate this concept of closure and provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics operating beneath these unique conversations, by approaching the phenomenon from a different direction. Previous studies have focused on the restorativeness or therapeutic value of VOD. The author instead adopts a justice lens, situating VOD within the historical record of justice practices after murder. The focus shifts away from the psychological symptomology of the individual to the social interaction itself. Through historical research, autoethnography and content analysis, the author has developed a justice duality framework unique to the crime of murder which conceptualizes VOD as a moral justice ritual fulfilling the duality, thus achieving justice and therefore closure.
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Keywords
Restorative Justice, Justice, Closure, Murder, Autoethnography, Victim-Offender