What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice (RJ) allows people harmed by a crime (victims) and people that caused the harm (perpetrators) to communicate in a safe and managed way. It is a voluntary process, whereby all parties must want to take part. This allows everyone affected by a crime, to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward. RJ empowers those that have been harmed to have their say, get answers to their questions, and take positive steps forward. RJ gives the person that caused the harm an insight into the real impact of their offending and gives them an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions by providing the person harmed with answers to their questions and acknowledging the harm that was caused.
Who is it for?
RJ is available, free of charge to anyone in Staffordshire who feels it might be beneficial for them. We welcome referrals from professionals as well as self-referrals from both the harmed person and harmer. Not all cases or circumstances will be safe and suitable but all requests for RJ are assessed on a case-by-case basis. RJ is voluntary for both the harmed person and the harmer and will only take place if both parties agree. The harmer will need to have admitted responsibility for the crime/harm that was caused and a trained Facilitator will assess that RJ is a safe and suitable intervention.
Methods of RJ
Face-to-Face (Direct)
Sometimes called a Conference. This is a planned meeting between the harmed and the harmer that takes place in a safe and neutral venue. Where the Harmer is in custody this may look a little different. Some people prefer to attend the conference on their own, however both parties can bring a friend or family member for support if they prefer. These meetings take place once preparation work has been completed with both parties and will only take place if it is deemed safe and suitable.
Letters (Indirect)
In some cases, the parties do not wish to or cannot meet face-to-face, and a letter is an alternative way to communicate. The Facilitator will work with the harmed and the harmer to arrange the passing of letters between both parties, to allow them the opportunity to ask any questions and share the impact of the crime with the harmer. The harmer will then have an opportunity to read and respond to the letter. Letters will be reviewed by the Facilitator before being passed to either party to ensure that the content is helpful and has a restorative aim.
Shuttle Mediation (Indirect)
Instead of writing a letter, messages can be passed verbally by the Facilitator, with consent, between both parties. This can be used where there are issues such as language barriers, being unable to read and write fluently, or through personal choice.
What happens Next?
A trained Facilitator will contact both parties to arrange an initial meeting, assessing each individual’s needs and preferences. Exploring the possibility of a restorative process is beneficial, even if no further commitment is made. At any point, either party can choose to withdraw.
Our service is equipped to prepare individuals for restorative processes, regardless of the crime type. We ensure all participants have the necessary support in place before any restorative work begins.
The Facilitator will guide both parties through the process, ensuring that it is safe and suitable. We take the time to understand each person’s needs and make sure they are fully prepared. Contact details, locations, and any other personal information are kept confidential, and ongoing risk assessments are performed to ensure safety.