Introduction. 1. The prospects for instituonalization of restorative justice iniciatives in western countries - Michael Tonry. 2. The vital context of restorative justice - Hans Boutellier. 3. Beyond evangelical criminology: the meaning and significance of restorative justice - John Pratt. 4. The intermediate position of restorative justice: the case of Belgium - Ivo Aertsen. 5. Institutionalizing restorative justice? Transforming criminal justice? A critical view on the Netherlands - John Blad. 6. Institutionalizing restorative justice in a cold, punitive climate - Adam Crawford. 7. The french phantoms of restorative justice: the institutionalization of 'penal mediation' - Jacques Faget. 8. The institutionalization of restorative justice in Canada: effective reform or limited and limiting add-on? - Kent Roach. 9. The institutionalization of principles in restorative justice - a case study from the UK - Robert E. Mackay. 10. Risk and restorative justice: governing through the democratic minimization of harms - Pat O'Malley. 11. Reintegrative shaming and restorative justice: reconciliation or divorce? - Roger Matthews. 12. Balancing the ethical and the political: normative reflections on the institutionalization of restorative justice - Barbara Hudson. 13. Epilogue - Ivo Aertsen, Tom Daems and Luc Robert.