FROM THE GUAPORÉ TO THE MADEIRA: THE POTENTIAL OF A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM IN THE WESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Abstract

This article presents the specific features of the State Program for Restorative Justice carried out by the Court of Justice of Rondônia, officialized in 2020. The program is managed by a dedicated governance body which is responsible for elaborating operational guidelines grounded in a transversal, interinstitutional, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary approach. Procedural actions are carried out by an operational unit focused on resolving judicial conflicts and executing projects. Beyond systematizing local restorative practices and presenting them as an experiential report, the methodological approach included bibliographic and documentary research to identify similarities between the program and the theoretical and normative foundations of the restorative paradigm, as well as the National Restorative Justice Policy led by the National Council of Justice (CNJ). Findings indicate that procedural practices parallel with current legislation and restorative principles such as stakeholder participation, accountability, harm reparation, and needs-based responses. Regarding governance, the analysis highlights the potential of implemented practices and projects, which extend beyond institutional boundaries and intersect with other public policies—such as education, the prison system, and traditional Amazonian communities. However, despite evidence of the program’s broad reach, the study underscores the need for improvements in strategic judicial policy management, particularly in monitoring issues.