Restorative justice

Question 1

changing the emphasis

Answer 1

crime seen as against individual and not state. healing process for offender and survivors.

Question 2

key features of the programme

Answer 2

trained mediator, face-to-face or video, active involvement, may include community.

Question 3

sentencing and restitution

Answer 3

Pre-trial, alternative to prison or reduced sentence. Restitution can be financial (pay), practical (do repairs) or emotional.

Question 4

Restorative justice council (RJC)

Answer 4

monitors standards, supports survivors, promotes wider use for conflicts (e.g. workplace, schools).

Question 5

Evaluation: needs of the survivors

Answer 5

85% survivors satisfied, 78% recommend, 60% felt closure, 2% felt worse (Shapland et al).
COUNTERPOINT
survivors may be used to help rehabilitate offenders (Wood and Suzuki).

Question 6

Evaluation: recidivism

Answer 6

Offenders who experienced RJ less likely to reoffend (meta-analysis, Strang et al.), improvement best with one-to-one contact (Bain).

Question 7

Evaluation: remorse

Answer 7

Offenders’ intentions may not be honourable, e.g. use RJ to avoid punishment.

Question 8

Evaluation: domestic violence

Answer 8

NPCC policy against use in domestic violence cases (power imbalance), but positive results (Lunnemann and Wolthuis), especially for couples staying together (Sen et al.).