UM professor publishes book on forgiveness in criminal law

Although forgiveness itself is not the goal, nor should it be enforced, criminal law should certainly make room for it. Unlike retaliation in the form of proportional retribution, forgiveness can make a very real contribution to resolving conflict and paving the road towards reconciliation.  It's time for the criminal justice system to start implementing pacification, which will inevitably lead to substantial changes in the field of criminal procedural law. Morality, law and politics should ultimately focus on achieving a peaceful and harmonious society that is as non-violent as possible. Civilisation involves more than simply exchanging unbridled revenge for proportional revenge. Ideals like recovery, forgiveness and healthy retribution are just around the corner. 

This monograph answers questions like: What is forgiveness? How does it come about? Are retribution and forgiveness opposites? Why is forgiveness important? What human image is it associated with? Should forgiveness be part of the public domain? How should it be incorporated into the criminal justice system? Which role should restorative justice play?