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Restorative Justice is about communication.
Restorative Justice can create an opportunity for those harmed by crime, and those responsible for the harm, to communicate about what has happened. It is a safe, empowering process where all parties are supported to try and repair some of the harm and find a positive way forward.
For some people who have been affected by crime, it can help them to explore why the crime happened. It can help victims move forward and feel less fearful of crime in the future.
Evidence shows that most people who take part in a Restorative Justice process come away feeling satisfied because it has allowed them to have their say. 85% of victims who have participated in Restorative Justice would recommend the Restorative Justice process. Reoffending by those who have caused harm is shown to have fallen by 14%.
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (2020) provides victims with the right to receive information about Restorative Justice and how to access Restorative Justice Services in your local area
The Restorative Justice Service in Hampshire is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. In 2023-2024, the Service received 343 referrals, and 272 processes were completed. These included direct meetings between the harmed person and the person who caused the harm (facilitated by trained practitioners throughout), indirect processes (sharing information, with their consent, between the participants), restorative conversations, and apology processes (which form part of some Conditional Cautions given by the Police).
Are certain crimes off limits for Restorative Justice? Restorative Justice can be used for any crime where there is an identifiable victim and offender, as long as both parties agree to take part. Victim led Restorative Justice is available for all offences, however we cannot accept offender-led referrals for domestic abuse or sexual violence. Read here for more information - FAQ: Are certain crimes off limits for Restorative Justice? › Restorative Justice Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Does Restorative Justice affect the sentence the offender gets? In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight we do not undertake any restorative process until the offender has been sentenced. If a case goes to court then sentencing is always up to the Judge who is regulated by sentencing guidelines. A parole board may be advised that an offender has participated in a restorative process. However, the restorative work will be a very small part of the dossier provided for a parole board to consider when making their decisions. More information can be found here - https://www.rjhampshire.org.uk/faq/will-this-affect-the-sentence-the-offender-gets
Can Restorative Justice be used for cases of Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) and with community mediation? Anti-social behaviour or ASB is any behaviour or act by a person or group likely to cause others harassment, alarm or distress. It includes behaviour which causes a nuisance that could be reported to the local council or where a crime has taken place and the police need to be called. Restorative Justice is possible in these types of cases.
For cases of conflict, dispute or ASB where a crime has not been committed and there is no clear offender or victim, a communication process can be facilitated by mediators. This enables individuals / parties to come together to improve their understanding of a situation and resolve issues through mutually agreeable solutions. Referrals in these types of cases must come directly from the police or local council / community safety partnership, with the consent of the potential participants.
If you have been the victim of a crime or anti-social behaviour and would like to find out more about Restorative Justice and their services, you can contact them at any time using the details below. Call them on Email them at Join them on Facebook Via the contact form on their website
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