The creation of a restorative city model following a relational and promotional approach

Abstract: The justice systems are trying to find a new way to answer at the difficulties of the traditional justice models (retributive/punitive and rehabilitative/treatment). In the last 40 years western countries are developing a third justice model based on restorative approaches. The Restorative Justice model combines the dual, indivisible need of rehabilitation and social security. The conflict/crime management promoted by the restorative model represents a cultural shift: community who call themselves Restorative City (eg. Hull), schools that adopt restorative approaches, urban areas that use the community for the effective management and resolution of conflicts(Wright, 2002). The contribution will focus on the presentation of a model of Restorative City, for the protection and promotion of individuals and communities, which is being tested as part of a national research project sponsored by the University of Sassari. The paper will present the development of a theoretical research on governance, on indicators and restorative justice that substantiate the proposed model of Restorative City. Our model is immersed therefore in a complex international debate on normative changes, the implementing measures and operational protocols to be adopted in judicial and extrajudicial fields, with the main aim to promote individual and collective welfare, fight recidivism, participate in the dissemination of a sense of social security. Its objectives traced back to the need to revise the penal systems in the light of the scientific evidence and operational considerations, with special attention to the victims of crimes and, at the same time, the development of new forms of treatment to reduce the conflict within the social dynamics. The model presented is related to social policies adopted at the national level, in relation to the policies and procedures implemented by the stakeholders on the prevention and control of deviance and crime. The model will be presented trough out an exploratory analysis of the conditions for the adoption of policies inspired by the idea of ​​restorative justice, based on: a) processes activation of mobilization of human and social capital resources of local communities; b) introduction of approaches already tested in other contexts, to prevent/combat crime; c) innovative approaches, promotional and community, in alternative to the punitive/custodial models.