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Join us for a 1.5-hour presentation, followed by a 45-minute reception.

Can Restorative Justice Reshape Institutional Culture in Prisons?

What happens when restorative justice moves beyond the courtroom and into the prison- not just for those incarcerated, but for the staff and institutions that hold power over them?

This presentation introduces a compelling ongoing research project examining whether, and under what conditions, restorative justice can contribute to reshaping institutional culture within the Brazilian prison system. The study is situated within a pressing penal crises: Brazil's prison system has been declared an "unconstitutional state of affairs" by the Federal Supreme Court, which has further determined that restorative justice must be incorporated across the criminal justice system.

Drawing on empirical and ethnographic fieldwork conducted inside prison units, including restorative circles and interviews with prison staff, the research explores how restorative justice may influence professional practice, interpretations of institutional mission, and approaches to harm. It particularly focuses on restorative practices conducted with prison officers, challenging us to think creatively about how institutional cultures change.

The presentation will also reflect on how a research visit to ANU has contributed to refining the study's theoretical and methodological framework, situating the Brazilian experience within broader international debates on restorative justice and institutional transformation.

Presenter:

Decildo Ferreira Lopes is a Judge of the Court of Justice of the State of Goiás, Brazil, serving in criminal jurisdiction. He is the State Coordinator for the implementation of restorative justice within the Judiciary and co-author of a book on restorative justice in the prison system. He holds a Master’s degree focused on public policy for the social reintegration of sentenced individuals and is currently a PhD candidate researching restorative justice in the prison system. He is a Visiting Researcher at the Centre for Social Policy Research (POLIS) and the Centre for Restorative Justice, Australian National University. His study explores the conditions, limits and mechanisms of cultural change and institutional transformation within criminal justice systems, with particular attention to how restorative justice may contribute to such change.

Discussant:

Leanne Close is the ACT Corrections Commissioner, bringing extensive experience across the Australian justice and national security sectors. She spent 30 years with the AFP and ACT Policing, serving in senior leadership roles including Deputy Commissioner Operations and Deputy Commissioner National Security, before moving to the Attorney-General's Department as Deputy Secretary of the Criminal Justice Group. Most recently, she served as Head of Counter Terrorism and National Security Programs at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and is a Member of the Victorian Department of Justice and Safety Expert Advisory Group. In her role as Commissioner, Leanne Close leads ACT Corrective Services in delivering secure and humane custody for detainees, with a strong focus on rehabilitative, educational, and vocational programmes.