 NEW GUIDE ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME
Reference: 053/2005 - Date: 16 Mar 2005 15:00
Criminal Justice Minister Baroness Scotlandtoday published a new guide on restorative justice for local police forces, prosecutors and offender managers.
Restorative justice is an innovative approach to delivering justice which encourages offenders to take responsibility for their actions and repair the harm they have caused, and helps victims recover and put the incident behind them.
Restorative justice brings victims and offenders into communication, either face to face or indirectly, through a trained facilitator. Itis always optional for victims. Research shows that over three quarters of victims who take part benefit from the process, taking the chance to tell the offender the impact of the offence, and have their questions answered about what happened. For many victims, the benefits include feeling safer and the chance of direct compensation and/or a personal apology from the offender if they want..
The guide is the latest step in the Government's efforts to develop the use of restorative justice approaches, and explains how restorative justice can work every stage of the criminal justice system to help to meet existing CJS priorities. Itfocuses particularly on increasing victim satisfaction and public confidence in the CJS, and offers tools and advice for agencies that want to implement the approach in their own area.
Speaking today at the Restorative Justice Conference Annual Conference in London, Baroness Scotlandsaid:
"Restorative justice encourages all of us involved in the criminal justice system to see justice in a new light. In many cases it helps victims of crime have a say in what happens to an offender. Itcan also be part of the rehabilitation process for offenders themselves.
"Restorative justice is about helping every victim get over the crime they've suffered. When a victim chooses to meet the offender it often helps them feel safer and more satisfied that justice has been done.
"So as we reform the criminal justice system to put victims and communities first, restorative justice should have a key place at the heart of our reforms."
Restorative justice is already widely used in youth justice. Itcan be used in a variety of settings for adult offenders: either by police, including when someone is cautioned or as part of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour; or for convicted offenders before or after sentencing.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Restorative justice case studies are available in the guide itself or from the Home Office press office.
2. The guide takes forward the Government's Restorative Justice Strategy, first published in July 2003, and available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/justice/victims/restorative.
3. For more information about the Restorative Justice Consortium and other press resources, see www.restorativejustice.org.uk.
Published: 16 Mar 2005 |
