Restorative Justice for Domestic Violence: The Meaning of Community in Circles

Although community involvement is a central ideal in restorative justice (RJ), its implementation in practice has scarcely been researched. This study used interpretive phenomenological analysis of interviews and focus groups to explore 16 circle participants’ and stakeholders’ perceptions of community in a domestic violence RJ program called circles of Peace. Three themes emerged: Importance of community involvement, Offenders’ prospects of change when the community is involved, and circles as a community within a community. The discussion highlights the beneficial role of community in the restorative process, as well as limitations and practical implications of the study.