Abstract
The purpose of this article is to wrestle with the difficulties as well as possibilities for restorative justice in a land of mass incarceration. What can restorative justice offer in response to mass incarceration? What are the limitations of restorative justice in response to our criminal and social justice crisis? If restorative justice is a necessary, but insufficient, part of efforts to dismantle mass incarceration, what else ought we to be doing? In this essay, I discuss two sets of restorative justice practices that might be useful and effective in disrupting mass incarceration: diversion programs and circles of support and accountability. I conclude by suggesting that we need not only restorative justice, but also transformative justice to dis- mantle mass incarceration and mitigate its collateral consequences on individuals, families, communities, and ultimately, our society as a whole.