AO1

• Restorative justice is the only alternative to custodial sentencing
• Restorative justice is where an offender meets with a victim and tries to make amends for crime commited and can be used instead of or alongside a custodial sentence, if the crime is more serious
• The first step is to seek cooperation from both the victim and the offender, and not cause any further trauma to the victim. Face to face meetings, mediation (resolving conflict) or indirect mediation are set up so offender and victim can communicate in a controlled setting
• Victim can ask for answers to questions they have and say what they want in a neutral setting
• Potential to use practical reparation in restorative justice programmes: offenders repair damage they have done eg painting a building with graffiti