Community praxis: Exploring a community engagement framework for restorative justice in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Bangladesh

Abstract

The concept of community is pervasive but ambiguous, and there is a lack of research on the role of community in restorative justice. Employing both in-depth qualitative interviews and surveys, this qualitative study unearths the role of community in restorative justice in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Bangladesh and examines existing community praxis in those places. The study proposes a community engagement framework which consists of horizontal community and vertical community. The study argues that incorporation of both horizontal and vertical communities would strengthen the quality of relationships, while also fostering innovation and creativity in restorative justice.