Restorative Justice and Domestic Violence: A view from a positive victimological perspective

It is proposed that traditional victimological perspectives tend to pathologise victims of gendered-violence and thus render the ‘choices’ they make irrational, if not delusional. The consequence has been the development of an essentialist solution to the problem of domestic violence; a solution that appears to be rejected by many victims. In order to reinstate the credibility of the victim, a positive victimological perspective is adopted, which sees the commitment many victims of DV demonstrate to maintaining their relationship as a strength, rather than a psychological impediment. In reconceptualising the victim in this way it will become possible to think of alternative interventions which focus on transforming, rather than ending the relationship between the victim and the harm doer. It is argued that restorative justice might be a suitable option that could assist some victims to change their relationship from within; that is to remain with their partner in a violence-free and fulfilling relationship.