Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Restorative Justice in Canada

Muhammad Asadullah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Justice Studies at the University of Regina, Canada. A recipient of the 2024 CTL Teaching Award, he is also recognized as a President’s Teaching Scholar, an honor reserved for faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to teaching and learning across the institution. In 2024, Dr. Asadullah received the Best Paper Prize from the Restorative Justice Working Group of the European Society of Criminology. He has also been honored with several other distinctions, including the Neekaneewak Indigenous Leadership Awards, the Law Foundation Scholarship in Restorative Justice, and the Contemplative Social Justice Award. His research interests include restorative justice, decolonization, transitional justice, Indigenous justice, and village courts. Dr. Asadullah remains deeply grateful to the Elders in Treaty 4 Territory, whose guidance continues to shape his journey on this land with humility and respect.Alana Abramson is a criminologist, restorative justice practitioner, and longtime faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she teaches in the areas of corrections, community corrections, restorative justice, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution. With more than two decades of experience in the field of restorative justice, she has worked across community programs, post-secondary institutions, and justice organizations to advance trauma-informed, community-centered, and culturally responsive approaches to justice. Dr. Abramson co-creates and delivers restorative justice curriculum with community partners and has trained practitioners nationally. Her research and publications focus on Indigenous justice, restorative processes, and the lived experiences of people impacted by the criminal legal system. A committed community advocate, she works to support survivors and incarcerated persons through BC Bereavement Helpline and the Alternatives to Violence Project.

• 1. Introduction/Preface 2. Historical Context of the Pandemic 3. COVID-19 and Its Impact on the Canadian Criminal Justice System 4. COVID-19 and Its Impact on Restorative Justice in Canada 5. COVID-19 and Innovative Restorative Justice Practices 6. COVID-19 and Healing Justice: A Proposed Restorative 7. Conclusion