IN-CJ Podcast 006 with Edit Törzs

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In This episode John talks with Edit Törzs, Executive Director at European Forum for Restorative Justice. IN-CJ exists to enable conversations about international criminal justice. This podcast is the second of a series about the challenge posed to leaders by the COVID-19 crisis. The people working in the criminal justice system, at the frontline, are facing unique issues in keeping services going and protecting the public. This also means that their leaders are also facing unique challenges. John Scott is finding out how leaders and organisations are responding to COVID-19. It is a chance to share experiences and problems, and to hear stories about creativity and changes.

In this episode of the IN-CJ podcast series on the COVID Leadership Challenge, John Scott speaks with Edit Törzs, Executive Director of the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ), about the unique challenges facing restorative justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EFRJ, based in Leuven, Belgium, is a European network that brings together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students to promote restorative justice. Its mission is to bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy, and to advocate for the inclusion of restorative approaches within criminal justice systems.

Edit explained how COVID-19 disrupted this mission, as the organisation’s core activity is to bring people together through conferences, training, and collaborative projects. Events had to be cancelled, and the EFRJ rapidly shifted to online platforms. They launched a blog, Solidarity in Distance, and created virtual spaces for members to exchange experiences and challenges.

Practitioners faced particular difficulties, as restorative justice relies on in-person dialogue and safe, shared spaces. Questions arose about whether restorative meetings could be safely adapted online, and whether this could ever replace face-to-face contact. At the same time, many restorative practitioners found ways to transfer their skills to wider community needs. In Spain, Italy, and Estonia, mediators supported hospitals, families, and schools in processing grief, pressure, and conflict caused by the pandemic.

Edit reflected on the leadership challenges of sustaining a creative team while working remotely, coping with uncertainty, and supporting members across Europe during a period of profound change. She noted that while online tools opened new opportunities for exchange, human connection remains central to restorative justice, and must not be lost.

This conversation demonstrates the resilience of restorative justice during COVID-19, and the importance of leadership that embraces uncertainty while sustaining networks of trust and solidarity.