Restorative Justice and Dignity in Prisons: When Victim-Centered Approaches Are Given a Safe Space.
My article about my work on dignity and restorative justice (circle dialogues) was published on the prison chaplaincy portal on September 18, 2026. I am pleased about this not only because I can share my practical experiences, but also because it brings to light a topic that has been close to my heart for many years: the dignity of people who have experienced crime and of people who have committed crimes. The article was first published in its purest form in Spektrum Mediation, issue 99/25.
I am delighted about this publication and would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Michael King, prison chaplain at Herford Prison and editor of the prison chaplaincy portal. Thank you, Michael, for giving this topic space and contributing to the public discussion of restorative justice and the question of treating each other with dignity, also within the context of the penal system.
What does dignity mean when a person has experienced a crime? When security is lost, questions remain unanswered, and the consequences of an act permanently alter one's life? And what does dignity mean for a person who has committed a crime and is imprisoned for it? A person who must take responsibility for their actions without being reduced to their crime?
These questions are central to my work with restorative justice circle dialogues in the prison system. State criminal proceedings are necessary. They clarify legal responsibility and form the basis for a legal response. However, the personal questions that arise after a crime cannot always be answered by a verdict. What happened to me? What are the consequences of the act for my life? Are my experiences seen and taken seriously? And how can a person who has harmed others begin to grapple with the consequences of their actions?
Restorative justice opens up an additional space where such questions can be addressed. Not as a replacement for criminal law, nor as a relativization of responsibility, but as a complement that places people, needs, and the consequences of actions at its center.
With my concept “Senior-Oriented Work in Prisons (BoAS)”, I have been developing and supporting restorative justice processes in prisons and advising institutions since 2016.
In the circle dialogues, inmates, victims of crime, and members of society who are neither victims nor responsible for the crime meet. The participants have not experienced the same crime together. Therefore, it is not about a direct encounter between a victim and the person who specifically harmed them. This distinction is essential. It enables a dialogue about the consequences of crime, responsibility, vulnerability, and social coexistence without exposing victims to a direct confrontation with the person responsible.
The joint meetings are carefully prepared. Voluntary participation, psychological safety, a trauma-informed setting, and professional support are essential prerequisites. Participation is self-determined; no one is required to disclose personal experiences or follow a specific path of processing. Those affected are given space to express their experiences and the consequences of crimes committed. Inmates can confront the impact of their offenses and take responsibility. The participating members of society contribute a further perspective and emphasize that crimes affect not only individuals but also social cohesion.
For me, restorative justice doesn't mean dissolving guilt or responsibility, or questioning consequences. It's about enabling responsibility that goes beyond the mere acknowledgment of a criminal conviction. Responsibility becomes concrete where people can grapple with the consequences of their actions. Where they listen, can withstand questions, and perceive other perspectives. Where no one is told what to feel or say, but rather a safe space is created in which serious engagement becomes possible. At the same time, the perspective of those affected must not disappear behind the resocialization mandate of the penal system. Their traumas, needs, and questions deserve attention, regardless of whether they are willing to engage in dialogue.
Dignity is not a privilege that must be earned through correct behavior. It is inherent in every human being. However, recognizing it does not mean condoning every behavior. On the contrary: precisely when we take people seriously as responsible individuals, we can trust them to reflect on their own actions and their consequences.
Implementing restorative justice in the prison system cannot be achieved through a concept alone. It requires people who are willing to try new approaches, reflect on institutional boundaries, and bring together diverse professional perspectives.
In my work, I repeatedly experience how important collaboration with correctional facility staff is. Social services, psychological services, and chaplaincy can contribute their respective experience and expertise to shaping such processes responsibly.
This requires openness, time, and suitable conditions. And it requires the willingness to perceive people in their dignity, even where societal attributions often dominate perceptions.
I very much welcome the fact that prison chaplaincy is addressing these issues with its own publication. The exchange between practice, chaplaincy, academia, and the judiciary is crucial so that restorative justice doesn't remain merely a theoretical concept, but can be further developed as a concrete possibility within the prison system. My sincere thanks therefore go to Michael King for this publication and for bringing these topics to the public's attention. I hope that this contribution will spark further discussions, foster new connections, and encourage us to collaboratively develop victim-centered work within the prison system. Because behind every crime are people and their life stories. For me, recognizing their dignity, seriously addressing their trauma, and offering them the opportunity to take responsibility are essential components of a justice system that doesn't stop at punishment.
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