The Effect of Restorative Justice on Improving Public Trust and Reducing Stigma Associated with Reporting Corruption

Corruption severely affects and undermines the public trust and its socio-economic development and the stigma around the reporting of corruption acts as a major hurdle in campaign for accountability. The aim of this study is to offer an insight into the possible applicability of restorative justice (RJ) in potentially increasing public faith in whistleblowing and reducing the stigma that surrounds it. Based on Social Trust Theory, the research explores the possibility of RJ enabling a more favourable and inclusive approach to the fighting of corruption. Data were collected, through semi structured interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders namely: whistleblowers, anti-corruption officials as well as legal professionals employing a qualitative methodology. Specifically, case studies of RJ in corruption cases were analyzed. The findings indicate that RJ helps the climate for whistleblowers to be a safer one in terms of fear of retaliation and stigma, while increasing public trust based on public participation and transparency. Yet institute-level resistance and lack of infrastructure for RJ practices were also found. The study concludes that RJ is promising with respect to mitigating corruption’s effects, but it requires sustained institutional support and wider cultural change. It recommends the establishment of RJ frameworks in anti-corruption policies, public awareness campaign against stigma, most importantly robust monitoring mechanisms to achieve long term success. Bringing in restorative justice into the anti-corruption strategies in societies enables not only accountability but also transparency and public trust.