Abstract:
The present research seeks to identify the risks, rewards and challenges associated
with hypothetical restorative justice based responses to sexual misconduct at the
University of Oregon. Prior to this project here was limited research directly applicable
to identifying these risks, rewards and challenges because no university-based
restorative justice programs designed to respond to sexual misconduct existed to be
studied. The present research uses a literature review to investigate the nature of
restorative justice, sexual misconduct, and the laws and statutes that govern both at the
University of Oregon. The literature review is supplemented by qualitative data gathered
from a series of personal interviews with specialists on the subject. The research shows
that restorative justice offers a potentially valuable supplement to existing university
responses to sexual misconduct, albeit one that has a variety of limitations and barriers
that would need to be surmounted in order for it to be beneficial.
