A window on relationships: reflecting critically on a current restorative justice theory

Inherent in the task of theorising is a responsibility for ongoing critical reflection of the ideas presented (Steele, 2010). To that end, this article responds to the invitation extended by McCold and Wachtel to examine the conceptual theory of restorative justice they first presented in 2003 and which continues to be promoted globally. One particular aspect of their theory, the Social Discipline Window, is examined. Drawing on a qualitative, critical case study conducted in schools in Ontario, Canada, the article illustrates: (a) how unexamined theory can be problematic and promote practice that counters the principles of restorative justice; and (b) how people's lives can be impacted by power dynamics inherent in the theory presented (Woolford, 2009). In response, a revised Relationship Window is presented along with examples of how it can affect practice that is more consistently aligned with the philosophical foundations of restorative justice.

Ritual and routine: a means of adaption

Researchers have demonstrated how engaging in rituals or ‘patterned’ behaviours can help people cope with stressful situations and significant life changes. However, limited knowledge exists on the role of ritual practices in prison and how federally incarcerated Canadian men use these rituals to deal with their imprisonment. To respond to this lacuna in the literature, transcripts from 56 semi-structured interviews with former male federal prisoners released on parole into Ontario, Canada, were analyzed for emergent themes identifying the purpose of ritual and routine practices across prisons with different security classifications. Findings reveal the effectiveness of rituals for managing and mitigating the stresses of incarceration, specifically that prisoners’ routine behaviours constitute a positive strategy of adaption to incarceration (e.g., alleviating stress and passing time) in preparation for life postincarceration (e.g., anticipatory socialization). Structural Ritualization Theory frames the analyses and implications presented in this study.