Description
ABSTRACT
In contemplation of Restorative Justice and the alternative possibilities it offers, this Opinion Piece, considers two things together: international collaboration and artificial intelligence. Restorative Justice has been defined by RJ4All Institute Director Theo Gavrielides as an ethos with practical goals, among which is to repair harm by including affected parties in a direct or indirect encounter and a process of understanding through voluntary and honest dialogue (Gavrielides, 2007; Gavrielides, 2020). Restorative justice adopts a fresh approach to conflicts and their control, retaining at the same time certain rehabilitative goals. While this RJ4Alll Institute is a decade old, the concepts and ethos of Restorative Justice have existed in many forms in many places over the years, as discussed in Gavrielides, T. (2011). “Restorative Practices: From the Early Societies to the 1970s”. Internet Journal of Criminology ISSN 2045-6743 (Gavrielides, 2011) In Canada, where we are working towards Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples after the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, much can be gained from collaborating with organizations and entities from around the world that work towards developing processes and encounters that allow for positive change to unequal power differentials and social justice through encounters and community processes. International comparisons and collaborations can help us see past dominant settler paradigms in justice processes and imagine alternatives that are more inclusive of Indigenous traditions as well as Canadian settler diversity. Looking forward from 2023, it is useful to contemplate ways in which technology and specifically artificial intelligence can be used to support the development of restorative justice processes. RJ4All has been working with Canadian colleagues to develop an international case study for building the world’s first restorative justice postcode. For example, we have seen developments in Vancouver, BC where the Mayor came together with local restorative justice leader to create a restorative justice city. At the same, time RJ4All is doing this locally bringing into the project local stakeholders including government, ICT and AI experts, NGOs and residents. In the international context, working across borders, as well as in Canada’s northern and other remote communities, technology can be better employed to develop ways to engage in restorative justice processes that allow for an encounter between a victim, offender, and community members, across physical distance. AI can be employed in various ways to enhance and support restorative justice processes. Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm and rebuilding relationships between offenders, victims, and the community.
