Justiça restaurativa no Maranhão: transformações, contradições, potencialidades e resultados no período de 2020 a 2025

Abstract

This study sought to analyze the functioning of Restorative Justice (RJ) in the State of Maranhão, focusing on the transformations, contradictions, and outcomes observed following its creation and institutionalization through the establishment of the State Restorative Justice Center (NEJUR) of the Maranhão State Court of Justice (TJMA) in 2020, examining the subject up to the year 2025. The central research problem was to identify the main results of Restorative Justice in Maranhão after its institutionalization as a public policy by the Restorative Justice Center of the Maranhão State Court of Justice, particularly in relation to the official (retributive) justice system. To address this problem, the study was divided into three parts. The first presents the concepts of the modern State, capitalism, neoliberalism, and penal abolitionism. The second discusses the concept of Restorative Justice, its emergence, and its operation in Brazil. Finally, the third chapter examines the history of Restorative Justice in Maranhão, from its emergence in 2009, through the creation of the Center in 2020,

up to the present day in 2025. Methodologically, the research was grounded in historical- dialectical materialism and employed field research through semi-structured interviews,

questionnaires, and documentary and bibliographical analysis. The findings indicate that Restorative Justice in Maranhão faces sustainability challenges, particularly regarding its reliance on a volunteer-based model. At the same time, it has proven to be an effective approach for addressing issues brought before the justice system, having achieved significant progress. Nevertheless, it requires continuous analysis and monitoring to prevent it from falling into the traps of a neoliberal form of justice.