Restorative Justice
What is
Restorative Justice?
Restorative processes bring those harmed by crime or conflict,
and those responsible for the harm, into communication, enabling
everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in
repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.
In criminal justice, restorative processes give victims the
chance to meet or communicate with their offenders to explain the
real impact of the crime - it empowers victims by giving them a
voice. It also holds offenders to account for what they have done
and helps them to take responsibility and make amends. Government
research demonstrates that restorative justice provides an 85%
victim satisfaction rate, and a 14% reduction in the frequency of
reoffending.
Restorative processes are increasingly being used in schools,
care homes and the wider community to address conflict, build
understanding and strengthen relationships with young people. In
these contexts it is also known by the names 'restorative
approaches' and 'restorative practices'.
For futher information please follow
Restorative Justice link
Common types of restorative justice interventions in the youth
justice system, which may be
direct (face-to-face) or indirect (without a face-to-face meeting),
include:
- victim-offender mediation: communication between a victim and
offender facilitated by a
trained mediator
- restorative conferencing: in addition to the primary victim and
offender, other people
connected to the victim and offender (such as family members) also
participate
- family group conferencing: includes members of the wider
extended family, with a
particular onus on the family to provide an acceptable
solution
- youth offender panels: trained community volunteers work
alongside a member of the local
YOT to talk to the young person and their parents/carer, with the
participation of the
victim, to agree on a tailor-made contract aimed at putting things
right.
Futher information please follow key
elements of effective practice in relation to Restoritive
justice link.
