Restorative justice is one of the most talked about topics in the field of criminal justice, increasingly emphasized in relation to young offenders. Many see it also as a paradigm shift in criminal justice, away from dominant punitive and therapeutic paradigms, emphasizing instead the reintegration of offenders and potential offenders into their communities. Yet despite its high profile, the phenomenon of restorative justice is little understood. This book addresses this issue by providing an authoritative introduction to the ideas and principles of restorative justice, considering arguments both for and against its use. "Restorative Justice" should be useful reading for both students and practitioners, a key contribution to the restorative justice debate, and central to the future of the criminal justice system.