Contextualising the dilemmas of institutionalising restorative justice

In recent decades, the institutionalisation of restorative justice globally has outpaced critical reflection. This introductory chapter invites us to consider what is gained and lost during the institutionalisation of restorative justice and contextualises the main dilemmas involved in such processes. The first part introduces the rationale and aims of the book. The second part provides an overview of earlier analyses of institutionalised restorative justice, examining the challenges that remain to be addressed in this domain at the current time. The third part introduces the rich and diverse contributions which critically explore the topic of institutionalisation and provide context-sensitive analyses of major, recent and ongoing developments around the world. The chapter acts as an invitation to scholars, practitioners and policymakers to engage critically with the nature and significance of the institutionalisation of restorative justice globally.