Restorative justics

• Restorative Justice


  A system for dealing with criminal behaviour which focuses on rehabilitating offenders by reconciliation with the victim
• Restorative Justice


  • The offender can see the impact of their crime
  • Gives victims an empowering 'voice'
• Restorative Justice


  • Fundamentally different to other forms of punishment
  • Involves the offender making amends directly with the victim in some way
  • A process of healing between victim and offender
• Crime doesn't just violate the law, but also violates relationships between members of society
• Restorative Justice


  • Enables offenders to see the consequences of their actions
  • Enables victims to have their say
• Restorative Justice


  • Emphasises repairing the harm caused by the crime
  • May involve face to face encounters
  • May involve practical reparation (e.g. fixing a damaged fence)
  • May involve financial restitution
• Restorative Justice


  1. Can be an alternative to a custodial sentence (particularly with young offenders-as a final warning)

  2. Can be an add-on to sentencing

  3. Can be part of the process of preparing an offender for release
• Victims who have been through restorative justice may be more satisfied with the outcome
• Aim: To review evidence of the effect of restorative justice
• Restorative justice programmes


  • Face-to-face meetings between victim and offender
  • Offender paying financial restitution to their victim
• 36 studies (UK and abroad) comparing restorative and conventional justice were analysed
• The data provides positive evidence in favour of restorative justice programmes
• Recommendation that restorative justice programmes be "put to far broader use"
• Restorative Justice


  A conciliatory meeting between offender and victim to help heal wounds and provide an opportunity for atonement
• In practice


  Victims are often reluctant to meet the offender
• Offender doesn't truly feel remorse


  Opts for restorative justice as an easy way out to avoid prison or for a reduced sentence
• There is controversy about how much victim involvement is necessary
• Restorative justice is expensive