“CRIMINOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF REFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND ITS ROLE IN PREVENTING REPEAT OFFENCES”
AUTHOR– VAIBHAV SINGH KIRSALI* & MR. VATSAL CHAUDHARY**
* STUDENT AT LAW COLLEGE DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY, DEHRADUN, INDIA
** PROFESSOR AT LAW COLLEGE DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY, DEHRADUN, INDIA
BEST CITATION – VAIBHAV SINGH KIRSALI & MR. VATSAL CHAUDHARY, “CRIMINOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF REFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND ITS ROLE IN PREVENTING REPEAT OFFENCES”, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (1) OF 2026, PG. 519-528, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
Abstract
Reformative justice represents a significant shift in penological philosophy by emphasizing rehabilitation and re-socialization of offenders rather than mere punishment. Rooted in criminological theories such as rehabilitation, labeling, and social learning, reformative justice seeks to address the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and prevent the cycle of repeat offending. This article critically evaluates the effectiveness of reformative justice as a mechanism for reducing recidivism, with particular reference to the Indian criminal justice system.
The study examines the theoretical foundations of reformative justice and analyses its practical application through institutional mechanisms such as prisons, probation, parole, and community-based rehabilitation programs. It highlights the role of educational, vocational, psychological, and de-addiction initiatives in promoting behavioural transformation and facilitating social reintegration. At the same time, the article identifies structural challenges including overcrowded prisons, limited resources, lack of trained personnel, socio-economic disparities, and the absence of reliable recidivism data, which collectively hinder the effective implementation of reformative measures.
Through a criminological and socio-legal lens, the article argues that while reformative justice offers a more sustainable approach to crime control, its success depends on coherent policy execution, empirical evaluation, and strong post-release support systems. The article concludes that reformative justice, when integrated with community participation and social welfare initiatives, has the potential to significantly reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. It advocates for a balanced penal framework that harmonizes rehabilitation with deterrence, thereby transforming reformative justice from an aspirational ideal into a functional instrument of criminal justice reform.
Keywords: Reformative Justice; Recidivism; Rehabilitation of Offenders; Criminological Theories; Criminal Justice System in India; Prison Reforms.