Looking into Restorative Justice through an Intersectional Lens

This paper explores the intersection of restorative justice (RJ) and intersectionality, emphasizing how overlapping social identities such as race, gender, and class shape experiences of harm and justice. Rooted in Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework, this research critiques traditional justice systems for their single-axis approaches that fail to address compounded forms of oppression. The study demonstrates how restorative justice can integrate intersectionality to create inclusive, transformative justice processes, centering the experiences of marginalized communities. While examining the case studies in juvenile justice, criminal courts, immigration, and policing, the paper highlights the potential of restorative justice to address systemic inequities through dialogue, accountability, and healing. The research also considers challenges to implementing intersectional RJ practices, such as operational complexity, risk of divisiveness, and scalability. Ultimately, the study argues that a combined approach leveraging intersectionality and restorative justice offers a viable alternative to punitive legal frameworks, fostering equity and community-driven solutions.