| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis analyses the concept of restorative justice and evaluates the scope of implementation of its principles in the Lithuanian criminal justice system. The aim of the research is to examine the concept of restorative justice, assess the implementation of its principles in Lithuania in the context of international and European Union standards, and provide proposals for more effective application of these principles. The object of the research is the concept of restorative justice and the application of its principles in Lithuanian criminal justice. The thesis employs the methods of legal literature analysis, systematic analysis, comparative analysis, case-law analysis and logical analysis. The first part of the thesis examines the theoretical foundations of restorative justice, its concept and its relationship with the retributive paradigm. The second part analyses international and European Union instruments shaping restorative justice standards. The third part explores Lithuanian legal regulation, compares foreign models and evaluates Lithuanian judicial practice. The research demonstrates that the Lithuanian criminal justice system contains separate institutions with elements of restorative justice; however, these do not form a coherent and systematically functioning model. In practice, compensation for damage often acquires a merely formal character, mediation is applied only episodically, the role of the victim remains limited, and the probation system is primarily oriented towards control and risk management. As a result, restorative justice principles in Lithuania mostly function as isolated elements of the traditional criminal justice system, while the dominant model remains the retributive paradigm focused on sanction and control. |
