Two Tails of Justice
Abstract
It is argued that justice is a form of group behavior, and that there are basically five types of justice: protective, corrective, restorative, distributive, and representational. Corrective and protective justice, for the most part, help attain social control and strengthen existing social order. Distributive and representational justice often help the marginalized and disadvantaged members of a group. Restorative justice is in the middle, and performs both functions. Thus, justice seems to have two tails, similar to that found in a normal curve in statistics. One of these tails, where corrective and protective justice help support the existing social order of groups, provides social stability. The other tail, where distributive and representational justice support the vulnerable and the marginalized members of a group, generates the thrust for social change. Social workers need to understand the proper role of both of these tails.