Samenvatting

This contribution discusses the role of punishment in restorative justice by looking at the concept of ‘institutionalisation’ as it appears in restorative justice literature and practice. Starting point is the well-known tension between effectively implementing restorative justice in the context of criminal justice on the one hand, and keeping its proper values and principles on the other hand. Different meanings of the process of institutionalisation are presented and the question is asked whether and how – in-between autonomy and dependence – a semi-autonomous position for restorative justice can be conceptualised and how this can be operationalised. A plural understanding of justice is adopted, where restorative justice is given a sufficiently autonomous position that evokes a permanent institutional dialogue with, and challenge for, pre­dominant conceptions of punishment.