About the Practitioner
John's work is in the field of research based on a theoretical interest in the concept of Restorative Justice and Restorative Practice in the justice system and an understanding of how that concept is able to be applied in a practical sense.
John has had an interest in the area for many years, having done his Phd on alternative methods of sentencing and his interest has further developed his areas of research work at Newcastle University.
During his research, John became aware of the extensive body of work by Professor John Braithwaite from the ANU and his interest has developed into the focus of his research. He assisted in the creation of a course on Restorative Justice at Newcastle University and has contributed to some of the teaching with a Criminology colleague in that course.
John's work in this area was given further impetus when he met Mary Porter from the NED Foundation, a philanthropic organisation that supports projects that further Restorative Justice and Restorative Practice. The then Dean of the Newcastle University Law School, Professor Tania Sourdin, was also very supportive of, and encouraged, work John was doing in this area.
John's expertise is in the conceptual and practical understanding of Restorative Justice and Restorative Practice, and the potential it has for building, repairing and maintaining important relationships in people's lives.
As both a university researcher and lecturer and combined with his many years of practical experience as a solicitor in criminal law, John's research and interpretation of relevant studies and data, allows him to develop policy and practical applications of Restorative Practice and Restorative Justice in the legal system.
The combination of John's practical experience as a solicitor in criminal law, and the knowledge he gained through his research, allows him to promote its capacity for use in the legal system in a very practical sense.
John was initially a solicitor working for the DPP. For two years during this time he worked on murder cases in the NSW Supreme Court.
As a consequence of this time, John had long exposure to the sentencing process and the effect that process had on people. He subsequently undertook his Phd on alternative methods of sentencing, principally in relation to the sentence of life imprisonment for murder.
John had exposure to an alternative method of sentencing by observing the proceedings of the Hunter Drug Court which is based on a therapeutic model of jurisprudence, a type of Restorative Justice using a rehabilitation process where the 'problem solving court', manages a team of professionals, from a range of disciplines, who work together to assist the person to overcome the issues that have brought them to the court and to establish new beneficial relationships and/or repair existing relationships damaged by the offending behaviour
Organisation
- Academic - lecturer,
- Academic - researcher
- University
- Community Development/Education
- Consultancy
- Corrections and prisons
- Criminal Justice
- Gendered violence
- Health and well being
- Human rights
- Policy development
- Research
- Restorative Circles
- Restorative Practice meetings
- Rights of older people
- Youth justice