Criminal justice policies in the United States have often been criticized as being overly punitive when compared with the policies of many other nations. Critics contend that our public policy choices focus heavily on punishment rather than rehabilitation. Assume that you are appointed as a key advisor to a newly elected governor who wants to shift the state’s policies toward a more restorative approach. Prepare a briefing paper for the governor.
In your discussion, include the following:
a carefully stated policy rationale for a more restorative based approach;
a discussion of how restorative based policies would differ from the state’s current policies that are based on punishment and incapacitation; and
documentation of scholarly research, theory (if any), that support this restorative-based approach.