Restorative justice is one of the most rapidly growing phenomena in the field of criminology and justice studies. It has also become prominent in debates about wrongdoing and conflict in schools, workplaces, and everday life - even in dealing with gross violations of human rights. Restorative justice schemes are flourishing around the world, attracting increased attention from academics, professionals and policy-makers.The rise of restorative justice has been accompanied by the development of a large, diverse and increasingly sophisticated body of research and scholarship. This has now reached the stage where a comprehensive, authoritative and accessible survey of the field is both possible and necessary.The Handbook of Restorative Justice is unlike the many collections currently available on restorative justice. It consists of specially commissioned chapters from the leading authorities in the field intended to provide encyclopedic and reliable coverage of the movement. It will be an essential resource for students, practitioners, policy-makers and anybody else with an interest in restorative justice and the future of criminal justice.