Cards (4)

  • Needs of the victim
    • Positive outcomes
    • RJC (Shapland et al.) - 7 year project
    • 85% victims satisfied
    • 78% would recommend
    • 2% said it made them feel worse
    • Therfore, restorative justice helps victims cope with the aftermath of a crime
  • Counterpoint to Shapland et al.
    • Wood and Suzuki - restorative justice processes are not as survivor-focused as reported in surveys
    • Can be distorted as victims can be 'used' to rehabilitate offenders, rather than being helped
    • Therefore, needs may be seen as secondary to rehabilitation
  • Recidivism
    • Strang et al. - meta-analysis; restorative justice vs custodial sentencing
    • Restorative justice group significantly less likely to reoffend
    • Larger reduction in violent crimes than property crimes
    • Bain - 24 studies; lowered recidivism rates with adult offenders than general community involvement
    • Therefore, positive impact on recidivism - more than other methods
  • Abusing the system
    • Offender's intentions must be honourable
    • Gijseghem - offenders may want to avoid punishment, downplay actions or take pride
    • Therefore, explains why not all offenders benefit