Erasmus+ Project "Common Ground": Strengthening Restorative Justice in European Prisons
How can restorative justice be more firmly established in the prison system? What does a restorative approach mean in the daily work of justice officials? What opportunities does it offer, and where are its professional, ethical, and institutional limits?
These are the questions we are addressing in the European Erasmus+ project "Common Ground," which I am implementing together with Interchange and the Spanish organization Asociación para la Mediación, el Encuentro y la Escucha . The project is aimed at professionals in the justice system and adult education who wish to engage with restorative justice in the prison system. The goal is to foster a sound understanding of restorative principles, clarify professional roles and responsibilities, and demonstrate how these principles can be integrated into existing daily work. This explicitly includes approaches that do not require additional programs, new tasks, or substantial financial resources. How can professionals reflect on their current practices? What is the significance of the perspectives of victims and perpetrators? And how can questions of responsibility, justice, and the consequences of crime be addressed within existing institutional frameworks?
As a first step, we are examining existing practices, guidelines, and training programs for restorative justice in prisons across various European countries. The findings will be compiled in a comparative report. Building on this, a two-day transnational workshop will be held, providing a forum for professionals to share their experiences, explore different career perspectives, and reflect on the opportunities and limitations of restorative approaches. Based on these insights, we will develop practical information and educational materials. These will include printable guides, short videos, and a digital handbook. The materials will be accessible throughout Europe and offer professionals a sound, expert orientation.
In my work as a restorative justice practitioner and developer of the action concept "Survivor-Oriented Work in Prisons" (BoAS), I have been exploring for years how spaces for encounter, perspective-taking, and taking responsibility can emerge within a highly regulated system. The experiences from our circle dialogues demonstrate to me how crucial it is to truly give voice to people with their diverse perspectives and experiences. At the same time, I observe that restorative justice is still understood very differently, and that engaging with its ethical foundations, possibilities, and limitations is by no means a given.
Restorative justice cannot be reduced to individual dialogue processes. The underlying approach raises fundamental questions: How do we treat people who have committed serious crimes? What significance do the experiences and needs of the victims have? How do we deal with power dynamics, institutional constraints, and differing conceptions of justice? And how can staff in the correctional system incorporate these questions into their professional reflection?
That's precisely why I believe it's important for us to also examine existing options for action within the project. Not every restorative practice requires an organized dialogue between victims and perpetrators. And we mustn't lose sight of the specific requirements regarding voluntariness, safety, and professional responsibility. I look forward to contributing my experience from practical work in the German prison system to the project, learning from the experiences of our European partners, and jointly developing materials that enable correctional officers to engage in a nuanced discussion of restorative justice.
With “Common Ground”, we want to help professionals in European justice systems develop a common professional basis to better understand restorative principles, to critically reflect on them and to responsibly integrate them into their professional practice.
Further information on the Erasmus+ project “Common Ground”:
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