Recalibrating victimhood through restorative justice: perspectives from Europe

This article will discuss developments in Europe as a starting point for analysing how victims' rights and services might influence evolving conceptions of victimhood in general, and victim images in restorative justice practices in particular. First, the development and implementation of restorative justice and its relation to European victim policies will be presented. Then, a discussion will follow on the victim images that appear in this European landscape, based on critical analysis and research findings regarding the actual position of the victim and his/her rights, including the victim's position in restorative justice programmes. A final section will deal with perspectives that are offered when notions of justice are put forward to rethink victimhood through restorative justice processes.