Blog

Restorative Justice International Lisa Rea, President
www.restorativejusticeinternational.com
October 1, 2015
RJI 2015 Membership Survey
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Restorative Justice International is excited to share the results of our 2015 member survey. There were a total of 137 respondents likely representing the more active and involved members of Restorative Justice International (RJI). The sample is large enough to 1) guide the development of RJI objectives and future activities, and 2) show the depth of interest and commitment to restorative justice nationally and globally based on the interest level shown by the respondents. In the survey RJI listed many topics where restorative justice is applied currently and included new areas where we predict restorative justice will be seen in the future globally.
Respondents were from 23 countries, and 30 states in the United States. Respondents included the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, India, Ireland, Israel, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the U.S.
How are the respondents currently active in restorative justice?
The respondents were most likely involved in restorative justice (RJ) in schools (46%), followed at a distant second by victims and victim outreach (32%). About a quarter of the respondents are now working with (RJ) in-custody programs (28%), youth outreach (26%) and forgiveness-related work (25%). About a fifth are currently involved with evidence based research (22%), legislation (20%), racial justice (19%), or restorative policing (18%).
Less than a fifth are involved in lobbying, (17%) faith communities (16%), media outreach (11%) or human rights (10%). Less than a tenth are involved with environment (7%), wrongful convictions (6%), death penalty (5%) or clergy sexual abuse (4%).
What topics do respondents report supporting RJI take the lead on?
Respondents rated evidence-based research as the highest priority (43%) for RJI to take the lead on, followed closely by legislation and public policy (41%), lobbying (38%), media outreach (36%), and restorative practices in schools (35%). Victim outreach, restorative policing, and in-custody programs all received 34% of respondent support. A third or fewer indicated support for RJI taking the lead on restorative justice and the environment (33%), human rights (32%), youth outreach (31%), clergy sexual abuse (29%), wrongful conviction (28%), death penalty (28%), racial justice (26%), faith communities (24%) or forgiveness (24%).
What topics are respondents willing to work on?
More than a quarter of respondents said they are willing to put time into in-custody RJ programs (29%), victims and victim outreach (28%), restorative practices (RP) in schools (28%), restorative policing (26%), forgiveness and RJ (26%), and lobbying for RJ (25%). Evidence-based research ranked 7th (24%), followed closely by legislation and public policy (22%), wrongful convictions (21%) and racial justice (20%). Less than a fifth were willing to spend time on youth outreach (19%), media outreach (19%), human rights (19%), faith communities (18%) or the environment and RJ (15%). Least support for the death penalty (10%), or clergy sexual abuse (9%).
What topics are respondents interested in receiving training?
Only restorative policing (26%)received more than a quarter of respondents indicating an interest in training, followed closely by evidence-based research (24%), victims outreach (22%), in-custody programs (21%), and RP in schools (20%). Less than a fifth indicated desire to receive training on forgiveness (19%), racial justice (18%), media outreach (17%), legislation and public policy (16%), youth outreach (15%) or faith communities (15%). Less than one-eighth expressed an interest in training about the environment and RJ (12%), lobbying (12%), human rights (12%), clergy sexual abuse (11%), wrongful convictions (9%) or the death penalty (9%).
The high professional caliber of the individual respondents is most impressive. Respondents include some of the world’s foremost scholars and practitioners throughout the restorative justice movement.
Thank you for responding to this survey. The results provides an opportunity and an empirical basis to establish working groups focused on specific topics. RJI will be inviting members who indicated a willingness to participate as Restorative Justice International establishes these groups. You are welcome to contact us directly.
For those expressing an interest in training RJI will be contacting you about up-coming possibilities. For all those participating, THANK YOU for the feedback and guidance regarding the work of Restorative Justice International as we seek to work with you to make restorative justice a reality around the world. Restorative justice is the vision needed for real criminal justice reform globally.
RJI works for the expansion of victims-driven restorative justice
through our public education efforts and our public policy initiatives. Please support Restorative Justice International with a contribution today!

Contribute to RJI

Prepared by Paul McCold, RJI Global Steering Committee Member; Survey Monkey 10/1/2015