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In this episode of the IN-CJ podcast, John Scott spoke with Claudia Mazzucato who is an Associate Professor of Criminal Law at the Catholic University in Milan, Italy and a Restorative Justice Practitioner. The discussion considered how there is a need for a form of restorative justice for the people of Italy as they take stock of the impact of the pandemic, and the need for a sense of public justice that avoids punitive responses while respecting and acknowledging the sense of anger and grief that many people feel.
This episode of the IN-CJ podcast continues the international seminar series exploring how restorative justice knowledge travels across countries, sectors, and communities. Building on Session One, the focus turned to the challenges of sustainability, organisational culture, and the local adaptation of restorative practices.
The session was introduced by Anna Oprea, who raised the central questions of whether restorative justice is being genuinely embedded in organisations or risks becoming tokenistic. She emphasised the need for ownership, critical mass, and common language to sustain restorative values over time.
Contributors from across the globe added their perspectives. Edith Törzs of the European Forum for Restorative Justice stressed that restorative justice is not just a set of techniques but a principle-based approach requiring institutional and societal commitment. Vivian Geiran, former Director of the Irish Probation Service, highlighted the importance of leadership and senior champions in embedding restorative approaches within systems.
From Canberra, Fiona Tito-Wiklund and Mary Ivec described the growth of the Restorative City initiative, which developed from projects in child protection and housing disputes into a city-wide movement, supported by community engagement and international exchange. Janet Hope reflected on the role of universities as restorative learning spaces, where students form networks that can carry restorative practice into wider society.
Kelvin Abuki provided insight into pioneering work to establish restorative justice in Nigerian prisons, despite resource constraints. Gail Burford of the University of Vermont urged caution in overusing the term “sustainability,” reminding participants that enduring restorative values are often rooted in families and communities rather than institutions.
Across the discussion, key themes emerged: the importance of distinguishing between knowledge transfer and knowledge exchange; the need to avoid superficial labelling; and the role of networks and international collaboration in sustaining restorative justice. The conversation highlighted that restorative practice cannot be “copied and pasted” but must be translated into locally meaningful forms, rooted in values and supported by leadership and culture.
This seminar reinforced the value of IN-CJ as a platform for critical dialogue across borders, offering a space where restorative justice experiences can be shared, challenged, and sustained in diverse contexts.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast – Restorative Justice and the Dynamics of Knowledge Transfer Across Countries and Sectors (Session Two).