Reclaiming Humanity: Inner Journeys of Self-Forgiveness and Identity Restoration in Restorative Justice Rehabilitation for Offender Reintegration
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Abstract
Restorative justice is increasingly recognized as a transformative alternative to punitive criminal justice models. However, limited research addresses the inner journeys of individuals who experience such rehabilitative processes.
This study aims to explore how formerly incarcerated individuals make sense of their moral awakening, self-forgiveness, and identity restoration through participation in restorative justice-based rehabilitation programs.
Employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the study involved eight participants who shared personal narratives of emotional confrontation, identity reconstruction, and renewed social belonging.
Findings indicate that rehabilitation is not solely about behavioral change or program compliance. Instead, it is a profound process of reclaiming one’s humanity through reflective encounters, interpersonal support, and community reintegration. Participants identified self-forgiveness as the most difficult yet essential component of their transformation, often catalyzed by victim dialogues and facilitated support systems.
The study underscores the importance of viewing justice as a human-centered process that transcends institutional frameworks and emphasizes relational healing. These insights have meaningful implications for policymakers and practitioners in developing more empathetic, person-centered rehabilitation models. By emphasizing the subjective dimensions of reform, this study contributes to the discourse on restorative justice as a pathway for existential renewal rather than merely a strategy for recidivism reduction.
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