Radicare il paradigma riparativo: l’esperienza del Comune di Monza

The article examines the experience of the Municipality of Monza in developing a local model of restorative justice, following the introduction of Legislative Decree 150/2022. After outlining the core principles of restorative justice – relational centrality, active listening, voluntariness, confidentiality, and community involvement – the study explores the structure and evolution of the Restorative Justice Office, established in 2020 and progressively embedded within local networks. It analyses the main programmes implemented between 2021 and 2025, with a focus on restorative dialogues, victim support initiatives, and school-based restorative projects. The focus of this paper is on the restorative justice program known as 'restorative dialogue', provided for under Article 53 of Legislative Decree 150/22. This program, less well known than mediation and still scarcely implemented at the national level, is examined by illustrating its specific methods of application and development within the local context of Monza. The Monza case highlights the transformative potential of restorative practices in fostering accountability, mutual recognition, and social cohesion, showing how community participation – including citizens, students, services, and institutions – is crucial to grounding a robust restorative paradigm. The article also discusses the organisational and cultural implications of this experience, emphasizing the need for public policies that support dialogic and reparative pathways capable of complementing traditional punitive and rehabilitative models.