Restorative Justice gives victims of crime an opportunity to have a voice within the criminal justice system.
Restorative Justice sees the victim and offender having managed communication with each other. There are three types of Restorative Justice:
It is not a soft option, many offenders find it difficult to take responsibility and face up to the impact of their crimes. Listening to the victims’ perception of the crime can also be an uncomfortable experience for the offender.
Restorative Justice holds offenders to account for what they have done, personally and directly, and helps victims to get on with their lives. It gives victims the chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime and get answers to their questions. It lets offenders understand the real impact of what they’ve done, to take responsibility and make amends as well as focusing on the future and moving forward.
Restorative Justice FAQS Does Restorative Justice always mean meeting face to face? No. Restorative Justice can take via an exchange of letters. The use of this method is based on the individual needs of the victim or victims and follows a thorough preparation and risk assessment process.
Does Restorative Justice always happen once the process has started? Restorative Justice is voluntary for all involved and any participant, victim or offender, can pull out at any time. This is made clear to all involved each step of the way.
Does Restorative Justice give 'credit' to the offender at court or in prison? An offender receives no ‘credit’ for participating in Restorative Justice, the criminal justice system is very clear on this point. Research shows that offenders who participate in Restorative Justice are less likely to re-offend, that is a by-product to what is a service provided for victims.
Can Restorative Justice be used for more serious offences? Under the Victims’ Code of Practice every victim or person affected by crime is entitled to information on how to access Restorative Justice. If following preparation and risk assessment it is appropriate to proceed Restorative Justice can be used for any offence from shoplifting to manslaughter.
Can Restorative Justice cause more harm than good? Any Restorative Justice intervention would only happen following thorough preparation and risk assessment. The emotional and physical safety of those involved is paramount.
Does Restorative Justice mean the victim has to forgive the offender? Victims enter the Restorative Justice process for many different reasons. Some victims wish to explain the effect of the crime, some have questions that only the offender can answer, some want to understand if the offender is remorseful and on occasion we have had victims who wish to forgive. Those reasons are unique to each participant and there is no prerequisite for what those reasons are.
Contact us
If you would like further information about Restorative Justice, you can contact the Lancashire Restorative Justice Team by:
Emailing: [email protected]
Telephoning: 01772 412545