Criminal Law Contours of Restorative Justice
Kholoimova A.S., Klebanov L.R. Criminal law contours of restorative justice. Penitentiary Science, 2025, vol. 19, no. 3 (71), pp. 252–260. doi 10.46741/2686-9764.2025.71.3.003.
the research considers theoretical foundations of restorative justice, its models and types and analyzes criminal proceeding stages where mediation procedures can be used. The compliance of the institution of restorative justice with the principles of criminal law is studied. Purpose: to conduct a comprehensive study of the criminal law aspects of restorative justice, analyze its compliance with the principles of criminal law and determine prospects for the development of this institution in Russian legislation. Methods: formal legal method, comparative legal analysis, systematic approach, method of interpretation of legal norms and historical legal method. Results: the study shows that the institution of restorative justice can organically exist within the framework of criminal law norms; three main models of implementing restorative justice are identified; stages of the criminal process where mediation is possible are determined; the institution’s compliance with criminal law principles are established. Conclusions: criminal law relations arise between the offender and the victim, are implemented through restorative justice with the participation of the state, the offender, the victim and the mediator, while respecting the key factor – mutual consent of the parties. The scope of restorative justice covers all stages of the criminal process. The legal framework complies with criminal law principles, is based on Article 76 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and is consistent with the purposes of punishment. The institution can be designed as another criminal law measure and the criminal and criminal procedure legislation can be adjusted.
Keywords: restorative justice; criminal law; mediation; reconciliation of the parties; other criminal law measures; criminal law relations; principles of criminal law.
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