Restorative Justice is about victims and offenders communicating in a supported environment to discuss the harm that has been caused, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.
Restorative Justice will only happen if the victim and the offender both want to take part and a trained facilitator decides that it's safe.
Restorative justice often involves a meeting, where a victim meets their offender face to face. When a face to face meeting is not appropriate, the victim and offender can communicate via letters, recorded interviews or video instead. It's a process which puts the victim in control, giving them the opportunity to seek answers from their offender. With a national 85% satisfaction rate, victims have felt a sense of relief, empowerment and closure after meeting the offender. For offenders, this experience can help them understand the harm caused and the impact of their behaviour, giving them an opportunity to make amends.
In 2018 in Dyfed-Powys, 100% of people who took part in Restorative Justice said they would recommend it to others and 100% rated their support as excellent.
Quotes
"I am so glad that I did it. I feel that I have taken control again and I have control of my emotions. I don't want anything more from them. It has been my decision not to have the perpetrator's apology."
"I feel positive about the whole thing. Because we live in a small community, the chances of bumping into each other are quite high. Knowing we can see each other in public and say hello and walk on. Before, he didn't know and I didn't know what would happen. Now we both know."
"The facilitator was brilliant. He listened so much. This gave me a release as the facilitator was neutral and separate from the offence."
"[I would like to say] how brilliant the facilitator was, always phoning me up, making sure I was OK."
If you would like further information on Restorative Justice, please contact:
Mobile: 07526997796
E-mail: Restorativejustice.stc@justice.gov.uk / nicola.rees@justice.gov.uk
