Beyond the Gavel: A Paradigm Shift in Global Criminal Justice—In Honor of Professor K. Chockalingam

The criminal justice system has historically encompassed enforcement, punishment, and restorative practices. In recent years, global shifts have reoriented these systems toward integrating human rights standards, rehabilitative approaches, and restorative justice, supported by evolving technological frameworks. Interdisciplinary research has contributed to legal reforms and socio-legal initiatives aimed at developing more humane and progressive models of justice. These transformations are particularly crucial for developing nations, where judicial systems often face structural inefficiencies, limited access, and challenges in ensuring fairness. Professor K. Chockalingam has been a pioneering figure in advancing victimology, human rights, and criminal justice reform, emphasizing justice beyond traditional legal adjudication. His work advocates a victim-centric approach that prioritizes healing, rehabilitation, and restorative outcomes. This volume, Beyond the Gavel: A Paradigm Shift in Global Criminal Justice, honors his contributions by examining evolving criminal justice paradigms worldwide. It highlights innovative practices, policy reforms, and theoretical developments that align with a more inclusive, humane, and forward-looking vision of justice.