This book explores how RJ practices emerge and become engrained in contemporary societies and their criminal justice systems. The book begins with an analysis of the prospects for the institutionalization of RJ practices in western countries and then moves on in chapter 2 to consider whether RJ practices provide an effective response to the contemporary problems of high crime rates and widespread fear of crime. Chapter 3 offers a critical examination of the major claims related to the institutionalization of RJ and explores the possibility of undesirable and unintended consequences from the use of RJ practices. The next five chapters focus on the institutionalization of RJ practices within specific countries. Chapter 4 examines the institutionalization of RJ practices in Belgium, while chapter 5 analyzes the extent of RJ institutionalization in the Netherlands, focusing in particular on whether RJ practices have had a transformative impact on the Netherlands’ criminal justice system. Chapter 6 explores attempts by the New Labour Government in England and Wales to institutionalize aspects of RJ as a part of major youth justice reform efforts and chapter 7 examines the use of restorative justice RJ practices in France, which mainly employs the use of penal mediation. Canada’s efforts to institutionalize RJ practices with disadvantaged populations are critiqued in chapter 8 while chapter 9 offers a case study on the development of RJ principles and guidelines in the United Kingdom. The relationship between the risk management perspective and the RJ perspective are considered in chapter 10 and the new generation of RJ practices is critically examined in chapter 11, particularly in terms of their theoretical underpinning: reintegrative shaming thesis. Finally, chapter 12 examines the institutionalization of RJ practices in the current criminal justice environment. The epilogue discusses the main questions emerging from the readings. Tables, figures, notes, references, index