Il concetto di vittima aspecifica o “surrogate victim” alla luce della disciplina organica del D. lgs n. 150 del 10 ottobre 2022 attraverso riflessioni e testimonianze operative

This contribution aims to serve as a meeting point between the legal and psychological perspectives on restorative justice, with a particular focus on the concept of the surrogate victim (or non-specific victim). The concept is considered in a broader sense, examining both its potential and its limitations from a terminological and legal standpoint, as well as the possible operational implications associated with its use when the direct victim is present but chooses not to participate in the encounter. The article offers interpretative perspectives and practical tools to support operational reflection, also drawing on testimonies collected from victims involved in restorative justice programmes. In parallel, it explores the psychological effects and dimensions of agency experienced by participating victims—supported by a systematic review of the literature—as well as by offenders. The analysis shows how the encounter with an unknown yet “specular” Other can constitute, for both parties, a context for identity transformation and the restoration of self-efficacy.