Performing Absolution Narratives in Restorative Justice

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

Based on Goffman’s notion of people performing contextually preferred identities, a qualitative study of victim offender mediations shows that the roles in the sessions can reflect a certain moral assessment of the situation. This assessment is structured by a confessional ethos, including demanding remorse from the perpetrator and mercy from the victim. The powerful idea of confession and forgiveness as liberating and emancipative is seen as part of a Foucauldian, neoliberal effort working toward the same end as regular criminal proceedings: creating law-abiding citizens. However, creating law-abiding citizens is not encouraged through judiciary processes, sentencing and imprisonment, but by stimulating an inner, panoptic judge of conscience, motivating the perpetrator to remain within the law.
Bidragets oversatte titelSyndsforladelse i genoprettende ret
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftRestorative Justice
Vol/bind3
Udgave nummer1 Routledge
Sider (fra-til)28-48
Antal sider21
ISSN2050-4721
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 11 sep. 2015

ID: 131355419