Descriptive analysis of the portrayal of restorative justice in the B.C. newsprint media.

Portrayals of restorative justice in British Columbia newsprint media are subjected to a descriptive content analysis. Fundamental aspects of the restorative justice perspective, and its many manifestations, are examined to assess how this perspective is portrayed to the public as a series of processes and as an international social movement. The study contains three primary research objectives designed to assess what the articles portray, how they do this, and who is included in their coverage. The findings suggest restorative justice has been presented as an ill-defined construct, with articles frequently failing to adequately canvas the array of values needed to provide an accurate understanding to the reader about the construct. The findings suggest the articles overwhelmingly demonstrate support for restorative justice by way of including predominantly positive themes. The majority of articles do not perpetuate myths regarding the participants normally involved in restorative processes.