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Spring 2009




                          Resolution 32
                          News from the Restorative Justice Consortium




A New Dawn for Restorative Justice?
Government plans for a new adult strategy

Sycamore Tree
Victim awareness and Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice in Ireland
Challenges facing the National Commission

 Company number:4199237
 Charity number:1097969
Contents                                    Introduction                                     Welcoming and supporting people using
02     Introduction
                                            W        elcome to the Spring edition
                                                     of Resolution.
                                                                                             restorative practices across all sectors is
                                                                                             core to the role and remit of the RJC. During
                                                                                             April we'll be working with Skills for Justice
03     News in brief                        As many of you will know, our CEO Harriet
                                                                                             to develop a new National Occupational
                                            Bailey left the RJC at the end of 2008 to
                                                                                             Standard that reflects these more informal
                                            travel around the world.The Board and staff
                                                                                             and preventive uses of restorative practice;
04     Restorative Justice in Devon         of the RJC have been working closely with
                                                                                             and our July Conference in Cardiff will be on
       and Cornwall                         our very supportive funders to find the
                                                                                             Becoming a Restorative County - hearing
                                            resources to appoint a successor to Harriet.
       Interview: the new adult policy                                                       from people across the country who are
                                            But in the meantime, the RJC Board has
                                                                                             already making this happen in their area,
                                            asked me to step in as Acting CEO, on a
05     Sycamore Tree:                                                                        and encouraging new areas to get on board.
                                            temporary and voluntary basis, until we are
       Victim awareness and                 able to appoint a permanent full-time
       Restorative Justice                                                                   It's also an exciting time for the RJC. Our
                                            successor. I have been involved in the RJC
                                                                                             Membership Development Project, led by
                                            for many years - first as a colleague when
06     Restorative Justice in Ireland                                                        John Pepin Associates, is now complete.The
                                            leading the Home Office Restorative Justice
                                                                                             project has given us some really clear
                                            Policy Team (2003 - 2005) and since 2006
07     Mediation is a joke                                                                   feedback from you, our members, on our
                                            as a Board member. It's a joy and a privilege
                                                                                             strengths and weaknesses and how you want
                                            to be able to serve the organisation in this
       Restorative Justice in Prison                                                         the RJC to develop in future - a summary of
                                            new way at this challenging and exciting
                                                                                             the project findings and recommendations is
                                            time for both the RJC and Restorative
08     Events                                                                                on the RJC website (see also page 3). The
                                            Justice nationally.
                                                                                             Board has already acted on many of these
                                                                                             recommendations, for example turning our
Editor’s note                               Along with all the Board, I was delighted to
                                                                                             Forum meetings into one-day Conference
                                            see the recent references in Parliament to
Resolution is here to reflect Restorative                                                    events, and locating these during 2009
                                            Restorative Justice, and in particular
Justice and Restorative Approaches in                                                        across the country. The events programme
                                            Minister Shahid Malik's statement that " We
all their forms and developments.To this                                                     kicked off with our excellent January 2009
                                            are working with stakeholders, including the
end we welcome your input and ideas.                                                         Conference on Restorative Justice in
                                            Restorative Justice Consortium, to develop
Please get in touch if you would like to                                                     Prisons, held in Bullingdon Prison (see page
                                            a victim-focused adult restorative justice
submit an article, have suggestions for a                                                    7). Our Accreditation Project is also in full
                                            strategy that will build on learning from
feature, ideas for what you would like                                                       swing and we will be sending out invitations
                                            pilots." The RJC continues to meet with
covered, news of an event or would                                                           to attend three regional consultation
                                            Ministry of Justice (MoJ) officials to put
simply like to share an experience with                                                      meetings on a Blueprint for Accreditation
                                            the case for new RJ services, building on the
other readers.                                                                               for restorative practice shortly. Overall, as
                                            very strong results of the four MoJ research
                                                                                             the breadth of restorative practice and
                                            reports on Restorative Justice. The
Cover picture ‘A Shropshire Scene’                                                           restorative approaches grows and grows the
                                            Government has recognised the stunning
contributed by Mark Fox - Fox IT.                                                            RJC is growing with it, both in terms of our
                                            impact of Restorative Justice on victims,
                                                                                             membership and our vision for restorative
                                            including quantified reductions in post-
Chris Igoe, Editor                                                                           practices.
                                            traumatic stress symptoms, and their
E:chris@restorativejustice.org.uk           Restorative Justice strategy will now be led
                                                                                             Thank you to all of you, our members, for
                                            from the Victims and Witnesses Unit of the
Resolution is the quarterly                                                                  your support through these tricky times
                                            MoJ (see page 4). We welcome this, and
newsletter of the:                                                                           without a full-time CEO. Your commitment
                                            have been working closely with the new
                                                                                             to the RJC, willingness to contribute and
Restorative Justice Consortium              organisation Why me? Victims for
                                                                                             passion for Restorative Jusitce keeps the
Albert Buildings                            Restorative Justice to gain recognition for
                                                                                             o r g a ni s a t io n
49 Queen Victoria Street                    the right of all victims of crime to
                                                                                             and restorative
London                                      Restorative Justice. At the same time the
                                                                                             practice going
EC4N 4SA                                    impact of Restorative Justice on reoffending
                                                                                             and        growing
                                            - the 27% drop in frequency found by the
T: 020 7653 1992                                                                             through thick
                                            MoJ's own research, and the cost savings
F: 020 7653 1993                                                                             and thin.
                                            this delivers for the Criminal Justice System
E: info@restorative justice.org.uk          - should not be overlooked. So the RJC will
W: www.restorative justice.org.uk                                                            Lizzie Nelson
                                            continue to argue for Restorative Justice
                                                                                             Acting CEO
Company number: 4199237                     services to be delivered in ways that meet the
                                                                                             RJC
Charity number: 1097969                     needs of everyone involved - victims,
                                            offenders, their families and supporters, and
©2009 RJC                                   the wider community.
Not to be reproduced without permission
                                            These are exciting times for restorative
The articles in this newsletter             practices with the mushrooming of                Interested in making a contribution?
express the personal views of the           restorative approaches in schools and the        If you would like more information about
authors and do not necessarily              widespread use by police forces of the new       writing an article for Resolution please email
reflect the views of the RJC                Youth Restorative Disposal (see page 4).         info@restorativejustice.org.uk
02 | 03




News in brief
RJC contributes to                              RJC Membership Development Survey
new adult Restorative                         At the heart of the Restorative Justice
Justice strategy                              Consortium (RJC) is our commitment to           •An organisation with enthusiastic staff,
The Government are currently in the           providing relevant services for, and            quick to respond to enquiries.
process of developing their strategy for      representing the views of, our members.To
adult Restorative Justice, in the light of    do this better we sought views of members       Challenges for the RJC
the Ministry of Justice research pilots on    and non-members; our thanks to those            •The RJC is a charity relying on voluntary
RJ, which showed such positive results for    who responded. The following brief              donations and grant-funding for 95% of its
victims and reoffending. Ministers have       summary is based on their responses and a       income. To become sustainable the RJC
repeatedly named the RJC as a key             series of follow-up interviews.                 must reduce its reliance on voluntary
stakeholder in the development of the                                                         donations and needs to address the shortfall
strategy and we shall be watching to see if   The Survey revealed;                            between the income from, and expenditure
our recommendations are acted upon.                                                           on, members.
                                              • a varied profile of members and
                                              supporters, active in many sectors of the       • Widening its reach to groups that are not
The RJC is calling on all its members to      criminal justice, mediation and education       already involved, perhaps by broadening
show their support for Restorative Justice    services at both local and central              content.
by writing to their MP. Please act now at     government level.                               • Furthering publicity and lobbying work to
this critical time in the development of      • the RJC's crucial role as a central           ensure government backing and increased
Restorative Justice.                          resource and networking hub, allowing           public awareness.
                                              people interested in different restorative      • Locating events outside London.
Why Me                                        approaches to contribute to the
                                              development of the movement.                    Changes to Membership
This new organisation has employed its                                                        •Two categories of membership: Supporters
first member of staff. Sara Hall’s first      • a high level of satisfaction with the RJC's
                                              contribution to the development of              who wish only to keep up to date with news
tasks as Why Me co-ordinator will include                                                     and developments; Membership for those
                                              restorative practice; membership of RJC is
establishing Why Me as an independent         considered "very useful".                       who require services to help develop practice
charity and developing the organisation’s                                                     and career progression.
relationships with victims who have           • suggestions for improvements, the main
                                              ones in the areas of development of             • Revenue from membership will need to be
benefitted from or otherwise support                                                          increased to account for 10% of RJC
Restorative Justice.                          Restorative Justice, training and resources,
                                              research, advocacy and events.                  income through increases in the pricing of
                                                                                              Individual and Organisational Membership.
For more information go to www.why-me.org     The recommendations aim to build on the         •Events will be charged for in order to
                                              RJC's strengths, address the challenges         recover the cost to the RJC of hosting the
Regional Conference                           that it faces and make the most of the          event. Events will be open to all, with
Programme announced                           opportunities.                                  members benefitting from a preferential rate.
Restorative Justice and Social Change:                                                        Developing the RJC
How       Nonviolent      Communication       Strengths of the RJC
Contributes is the first of our quarterly     •A neutral and independent umbrella body        • Employment of a Development Officer to
conferences to be held outside of London,     able to bring together different strands of     develop our relationship with existing
                                              practice and thought.                           members and reach out to new members and
in response to recommendations in our
                                                                                              supporters in all fields of restorative
recent membership review.                     • A central hub of expertise and                practice.
                                              knowledge of restorative practice, a good       •Encourage members to help promote the
Our summer conference Becoming a              reference point for practitioners, the media    RJC and the benefits of joining. With a
Restorative County is also planned to be      and the public.                                 larger body of members and supporters the
held outside of the capital.                  • A respected advocate for Restorative          RJC will be better able to represent the field
                                              Justice, keeping Restorative Justice on the     and influence policy.
News in full                                  agenda of policy-makers and developing its
                                              principles.
For a full round-up of all the latest news
make sure you receive our monthly E-
bulletin. This resource is available to all
members, and supporters and includes
                                              About Us             Restorative Justice can give victims the chance to tell offenders
                                              the real impact of their crime, to get answers, receive an apology and move on with
information on events, vacancies and          their lives. It holds offenders to account whilst giving them the chance to understand
resources. In the latest issue find out how   the real impact of what they’ve done and to do something to repair the harm.
a minute-wielding pensioner has renewed
calls for Restorative Justice in Devon,       Restorative principles are also being used successfully in schools, workplaces, care
what the Lib Dems say about Restorative       homes, health services and communities without the labels of victim and offender .
Justice and what’s going on in Somerset,
Yorkshire and North America.                  The Restorative Justice Consortium is the national voice for Restorative Justice.We
                                              provide information about Restorative Justice to the public; support and resource our
For        your         copy         email    members who deliver Restorative Justice, and promote the development and use of
info@restorativejustice.org.uk today.         Restorative Justice.
Restorative Justice in Devon and Cornwall Interview:Policy Lead
                                          National
                                                      Meet the
Few forces have as good a history as        know) an excellent           platform     for    for Restorative Justice
Devon and Cornwall Police when it           Restorative Justice.                             RJC:Who are the OCJR?
comes to Restorative Justice, having
been involved in its development since      Within the Devon and Cornwall                    Andrea Dias: The organisation reports to
                                                                                             the Justice Secretary, the Home Secretary
2001. When the Force was not selected       Constabulary, as with some other forces,
                                                                                             and the Attorney General. Having
to trial the official pilot of the Youth    the move from Sanctioned Detections to
                                                                                             trilateral status ensures a joined-up
Restorative Disposal, Chief Constable       Public Satisfaction data and Positive
                                                                                             approach to criminal justice reform. The
Simon Otters gave the green light for the   Outcomes provides frontline policing             Victim and Witness Unit of the OCJR
force to pilot their own version. PC Phil   resources the opportunity to utilise             supports the delivery of services to victims
Skedgell brings us an update.               Restorative Outcomes (including the              of crime.
                                            more complex full RJ Conference) as a
                                                                                             What is the OCJR's responsibility for
 S ince my last update in Resolution        performance measure.
                                                                                             Restorative Justice?
(edition 26, summer 2007) the use of
                                            We are now using the Youth Restorative           The Victim and Witness Unit is tasked with
RJ has increased significantly within
                                            Disposal (YRD) as a means of                     raising the impetus for a more
many Police Forces within England and
                                            encouraging Young People to consider             victim-led approach to adult Restorative
Wales. As many of you will know, a
                                            the effects of their offending behaviour -       Justice with Local Criminal Justice
senior officer, Assistant Chief Constable                                                    Boards.
Gary Shewan (Cheshire) has been             within a restorative environment - whilst
appointed as the Association of Chief       enabling the force to be "measured"              What are the benefits of placing RJ
Police Officers (ACPO) lead for             within      our      new     performance         within the Victim and Witness Unit?
Community and Restorative Justice.          environment. This also provides Young            The research findings from the Ministry of
                                            People with an opportunity to avoid a            Justice funded pilot projects highlighted
The Home Office has also relaxed the        criminal record for their first offence          the positive impact of some Restorative
measurement      of   Police     Forces’    (assuming a number of other conditions           Justice models on victims (particularly the
'Sanctioned Detection' rates. This has      are met) and provides an excellent               conferencing model). Our aim is to help
been a restrictive practice historically    opportunity for learning.                        victims have a voice in the Criminal
because Restorative Justice was not a                                                        Justice System and Restorative Justice is
formally recognised measure.Thus there      Whilst still in its infancy, the YRD does        a good way of doing this. If delivered
was no incentive for the Police Service     finally provide victims of crime with a          effectively it can also help increase their
                                            much greater voice within the formal             confidence in the system whilst addressing
to use Restorative Justice, as there was
                                            Criminal Justice setting. It is also our         reoffending.
no performance reason for doing this.
                                            hope that this youth disposal can also be        What work is the Victim and Witness Unit
This change in performance regime has       replicated within the adult setting              doing on Restorative Justice at present?
now enabled forces to respond more          (imaginatively we may call it an Adult
                                                                                             We are currently having discussions with a
freely to the needs of their communities,   Restorative Disposal!).
                                                                                             range of partners on a future strategy for
rather than detection rates. At the time                                                     adult Restorative Justice (including
of this relaxation, Forces are now          In relation to the YRD, some of the              ACPO, the Restorative Justice Consortium
measured by the Home Office public          feedback from victims involved in the            and third sector victim services like Victim
satisfaction data - providing (as we all    process has been fantastic. One elderly          Support). There is already a lot of good
                                            lady in Cornwall was so impressed at             work underway and some areas already
                                            being able to meet the offender that she         see Restorative Justice as a key criminal
                                            didn't want any reparation (although             justice tool. We intend to work with the
                                            she did receive an apology). Another 3           Local Criminal Justice Boards to scope
                                            youths that damaged a wall in a school           existing provision across the country and
                                            assisted in re-building the wall.                highlight best practice. Our aim is to raise
                                                                                             the impetus of adult Restorative Justice by
                                            The mainstreaming of the use of                  highlighting its benefits as a positive
                                            Restorative Justice also comes with              service for victims.
                                            genuine concerns and issues over
                                            effective monitoring to ensure that 'true'       Andrea Dias is the Restorative Justice
                                            Restorative Justice is being used - rather       Policy Lead at the Office of Criminal
                                            than another process under the guise of          Justice Reform.
                                            being restorative. Thus far, those
                                                                                             The Restorative Justice Consortium is
                                            concerns have not been realised within
                                                                                             calling on all our members to act now at
                                            our Force.
                                                                                             this crucial time in the development of the
                                                                                             Government’s adult Restorative Justice
                                            PC 4412 Phil Skedgell                            strategy.
                                            Force Restorative Justice Support
                                            Officer,Territorial Policing Department          Please show your support for Restorative
Photo provided by Devon
                                            Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Police             Justice by writing to your local MP
& Cornwall Constabularly                    philip.skedgell@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk   through www.theyworkforyou.com
04 | 05


Sycamore Tree: Victim awareness and Restorative Justice
Anne Mason is a Consultant at Sycamore
Tree, an intensive programme running in
prisons across the country. Sycamore Tree
brings together unconnected victims and
offenders with the aim of raising victim
awareness among prisoners whilst
providing victims with an opportunity to
share their stories and gain insights into
the behaviour of offenders. We look
forward to hearing about the stories and
people involved in the programme in a
future edition of Resolution, but first Anne
informs us about the programme itself.

 P    rison Fellowship International (PFI)
is the world's largest and most extensive
criminal justice ministry - a global            Volunteers at a training event
association of over 100 national Prison
Fellowship organisations. PFI's Centre for     The name 'Sycamore Tree' is taken from          objectives, measurable learning outcomes,
Justice and Reconciliation promotes            the New Testament Bible story of                and professional standards.
restorative justice initiatives that work to   Zacchaeus, a thieving tax collector who
heal broken relationships, repair the          made amends to his victims and                  Alongside      anecdotal     feedback     a
damage done by crime and restore the           community. The programme is faith based         psychometric questionnaire called Crime
offender to a meaningful role in society.      but it is not faith promoting. Sycamore         Pics II is used to measure changes in each
                                               Tree is offered to all faiths and people with   prisoners' attitudes after taking part in
Sycamore Tree was developed by PFI and         no faith. If interest in Christianity is        Sycamore Tree. An evaluation of more than
first run in Houston (USA), then in New        expressed as a result of the programme,         2,000 Crime Pics questionnaires was
Zealand. It was first run in England and       the offender is told they can explore their     conducted by Sheffield Hallam University
Wales at HMP The Mount in 1998 and has         interest through the Chaplaincy and Alpha       and indicates that the programme reduces
since expanded to run in 34 prisons of all     courses.                                        attitudes that are known to be conducive to
security categories, with more than                                                            offending behaviour.
12,000 offenders having taken part since    "I am entirely committed to the
its start.                                  Sycamore Tree course… the benefits                 Additionally Prison Fellowship has recently
                                                                                               commissioned       a   research      project,
                                            are evident with regard to reducing
Sycamore Tree is an in-prison programme                                                        supervised by Professor Lawrence Sherman
                                            re-offending and properly resettling               of Cambridge University, to demonstrate
run over 6 sessions (usually one per week)
that aims to challenge prisoners' attitudes offenders." Prison Governor                        Sycamore Tree's effect on reducing
to offending behaviour; raise awareness of                                                     reoffending. At the heart of this project will
the impact of crime on victims and             Sycamore Tree was awarded accredited            be a randomised control trial, which will
communities; and teach the principles and      status by OCN (Open College Network) in         rigorously compare recidivism of adult male
application of Restorative Justice.            2003, and Prison Fellowship is an OCN           participants and non-participants. The
Sycamore Tree seeks to provide offenders       approved centre of learning. Accreditation      project will measure the frequency and
with an opportunity to make an informed        by an external body such as OCN validates       severity of re-offending of the offenders
choice to change their lives.                  the programme with clear aims and               within one year and also two years of
                                                                                               release. The research will provide evidence
                                                                                               for Prison Fellowship and significant
                                                                                               policy-makers of the economic and human
                                                                                               value of this programme.

                                                                                               The future holds three key challenges for
                                                                                               Prison Fellowship and Sycamore Tree to
                                                                                               address: continued and sustainable funding,
                                                                                               compliance       with     the   accreditation
                                                                                               requirements of Prison Service Order 4350
                                                                                               'Effective Regime Interventions' and the
                                                                                               recruitment, training and support of
                                                                                               volunteer tutors, victims and group
                                                                                               facilitators to present the programme.

                                                                                               Prison Fellowship England and Wales was
                                                                                               formed in 1979 as a Christian faith-based
                                                                                               voluntary sector organisation to restore all
                                                                                               those affected by crime.
                                                                                               www.sycamoretree.org.uk
                                                     Sycamore Tree, Birmingham                 01621 843232
Restorative Justice in Ireland: Challenges facing the National Commission
       he National Commission on                Two Restorative Justice pilot programmes         option", if it were used for serious
 T
.......Restorative Justice was established      deal with adult offenders at the court stage.    offences. It will be important to balance
in March 2007 to examine Restorative            The Nenagh Community Reparation                  the public interest in the distribution of
Justice and to make recommendations as          Project offers an additional option to the       proportionate punishment and general
to its future direction in Ireland. The         Court for persons who plead guilty to, or are    deterrence against the growing consensus
Commission has published an interim             found guilty of, criminal offences.The focus     amongst academics and practitioners that
report to date and a final report is due        is primarily on community reparation, as         restorative interventions can be applied to
mid 2009.                                       opposed to mediation. Project records of         certain types of serious offences.
                                                cases referred between 1999 and 2007             •        The danger that Restorative
The Current Situation:                          show very positive results but further           Justice alternatives will supplement
Restorative Justice at Juvenile Level           research is needed for full evaluation.          rather than replace existing procedures.
Restorative Justice exists on a statutory                                                        It will be important not to focus exclusively
                                                The Tallaght Restorative Justice Service         on offenders who would not ordinarily be
basis for juveniles as per The Children Act     offers either offender reparation or             dealt with in the formal process, as this
2001. The Act is the most significant           victim/offender mediation. Cases are court-      would deny the potential of targeting
diversionary strategy for juveniles in          referred at the pre-sentencing stage at the      individuals within the criminal justice
conflict with the law and its objective is to   discretion of the Judge and the Court            system who could benefit from a restorative
prevent young people from committing            remains in charge of the process at all          intervention.
further offences. This Act provides a           times.
legislative basis for the Garda Youth                                                            Conclusion
Diversion Programme to facilitate               Major considerations for the Commission
restorative cautioning and conferencing.                                                         Our present criminal justice system is
A second programme provides family              •       The assumption that the rate of          heavily reliant on custodial remedies, and
conferencing for court-referred cases           offender recidivism is the primary               while "get tough" rhetoric may have public
involving the Probation Service.                measurement of the success or failure of         appeal, it is difficult to ignore the fact that
                                                Restorative Justice. Such a narrow focus         approximately 25% of inmates are back in
The Youth Diversion Programme is used           for assessing the merits of Restorative          prison within a year, and 50% re-offend
for a wide variety of offences, from the        Justice fails to take into account its many      within four years. In addition to the
most serious, such as robbery and               other aims and objectives, such as victim        exorbitant costs of custody, the very high
assaults, to those of a less serious nature,    satisfaction, its potential to redress the       rate of recidivism amongst those released
such as under-age drinking and minor            harm caused by crime, and its ability to give    should be persuasive authority to explore
thefts. It uses a package of interventions      those directly affected a voice in the process   other methods and remedies.
designed to challenge juveniles' offending      of reconciliation. It is imperative that
behaviour by engaging the support of the        policy-makers retain a sense of balance          However, it is paramount that Restorative
offender's family and the extended              between the crime reduction potential and        Justice is not "oversold" in terms of its
community.                                      the other major benefits offered by              ability to reduce recidivism. Restorative
                                                Restorative Justice initiatives.                 Justice is not solely about reducing re-
Under the second programme, the Court           •       How Restorative Justice can be           offending rates, but has many objectives
may direct the Probation Service to             incorporated into the existing criminal          which can benefit victims, offenders, and
arrange a family conference prior to            justice system. In theory, Restorative           society at large.
sentencing.The Court can then approve or        Justice could be located anywhere inside or
amend any agreed action plan and order          outside the criminal justice system.             It can be argued that Restorative Justice
compliance; where no plan is agreed the         However there is no single blueprint for         delivers a more humanistic and efficient
Court may formulate one, or resume              building a restorative system and the            way of dealing with victims and offenders.
prosecution proceedings. This is also the       Commission will need to acknowledge this.        It holds the promise of restoring a victim's
case where the Court is dissatisfied with       •        Whether or not Restorative              material and emotional loss, safety,
the plan.                                       Justice needs a legislative basis to             damaged relationships, dignity and self-
                                                function consistently. The lack of a legal       respect. It also has the potential to reduce
Restorative practices, in a school setting,     framework should not necessarily be              the use of custodial sanctions, by offering
are also operated in some areas.                detrimental to the success of Restorative        an additional sentencing disposal and
                                                Justice, however, enshrining Restorative         diversionary option to the judiciary.
Restorative Justice at Adult Level              Justice in legislation would promote
                                                predictability, certainty of use, legitimacy,    The Commission has much to consider over
There is no corresponding statutory basis                                                        the coming months and in the current
for Restorative Justice at adult level but      and uniformity of application.
                                                                                                 economic climate it is hoped that the
there is scope for the prosecution              •        The range of offences and types         potential of Restorative Justice within our
authorities to divert cases from court          of offenders most appropriate for a              society is not lost on our policymakers.
under the Garda Adult Cautioning                restorative intervention. Attention should
Scheme.                                         be paid to the evidence-based research           Martin Haverty has worked as lead
                                                which has shown that Restorative Justice
                                                                                                 researcher with the National Commission
The scheme, which is not currently              can be more effective with more, rather
                                                                                                 on Restorative Justice, and his new website
grounded in Restorative Justice principles,     than less, serious crimes. This suggests that
                                                there is little basis for the view that          www.restorativejusticeonline.ie    is    in
is aimed at low level crimes. While it may                                                       development.
have potential to encompass a restorative       Restorative Justice interventions are only
dimension, such a move is susceptible to        appropriate for first time and juvenile
                                                offenders, or less serious offences.             This article is a summary of Martin’s full
"net widening", targeting individuals who                                                        paper      which     is    available   at
would not ordinarily have come within the       •       The danger that Restorative              www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Resources
criminal justice system.                        Justice could be perceived as a "soft
06 | 07


Mediation is a joke! Conflict resolution in Burkina Faso
It is in keeping with the restorative            face of inhospitable conditions.                In some ethnic groups the wife has a joking
principles of inclusivity and respect that       When conflicts do arise they are handled by     relationship with her husband's brother (if
Restorative Justice has been so inspired         elected chiefs of families and villages (each   any) or a prescribed cousin (and the
and influenced by anthropological                with about 100-300 people) who act as           husband with his wife's sister, grandparents
observations around the world - most             mediators. Women are present as advisers,       with grandchildren, and so on). They make
famously by the approaches to conflict           children as learners. This method is            flowery jokes with each other, not too
resolution of the Maori and the indigenous       supplemented by the remarkable tradition        strongly, with satirical elements. If for
peoples of North America. Here Dr Martin         of 'joking relationships' which the clans,      example the wife cannot resolve problems
Wright relates the practices of the West         ethnic groups, and districts have with each     with her husband on her own, she asks her
African country Burkina Faso and                 other. A visitor may be surprised to see two    joking partner for help. With the husband
discovers that joking can be a serious           men arguing loudly in the street and            present, she enacts a humorous scene,
approach to conflict resolution.                 gesticulating, from time to time breaking       dressed up in metaphors, about the joys of
                                                 out into laughter about stereotypes of each     married life, her own feelings and needs,
 T here is much scope for conflict in one        other's ethnic group (but not about             with scattered references to any marital
of the poorest countries of the world, with      mothers, physical handicaps or sexuality),      tensions. The brother-in-law listens
61 ethnic groups and 8 large language            and then parting with good wishes for their     attentively, jokes with her about everyday
families. Burkina Faso (known as Upper           families and ethnic groups.                     life, and drops in some ideas about handling
Volta until 1983) is a mainly rural West                                                         the conflict. It is important not to blame the
African country about thee times the size of     There are numerous stories about how this       husband or show him up. He acts as if he
Austria, with a population of 1.2 million. Its   system originated, telling for example about    wasn't listening; so he keeps his dignity
major religions are Christian, Muslim and a      times when men quarrelled and were ready        while hearing his wife's feelings and needs.
natural religion in which the other two are      to go to war over trivial matters. The clever
seen as living equally 'under the roof' of the   forefathers put a stop to this lust for         With ever-increasing westernisation the
highest existence, DO (God). This religious      fighting by introducing the joking              enormous cultural and emotional richness
perspective stresses that their ancestors        relationships. They exist in practically all    of these traditions is threatened; but the
wish them to live together with consent, co-     social groupings, and between ethnic groups     African renaissance proposed by the South
operation and harmony, and may be linked         however small. Now even children learn          African president Thabo Mbeki is being felt.
to the lack of religious conflict there. It      how to do it. Diversity is seen as enriching,
appears to have survived the colonial legal      to be contained, not feared. Real conflicts     Summarised by Martin Wright from two
system introduced in 1919, partly perhaps        are generally prevented by being turned into    articles by Sonja Steixner in Perspektive
because of the need to co-operate in the         comic, verbal ones.                             Mediation (Vienna), 2007 (3) and 2008 (3)


Restorative Justice in Prison HMP Bullingdon RJC January Event Report




The RJC held its first event of 2009,            day’s presentations were delivered. The         introduction of Restorative Justice recorded
Restorative Justice in Prison, in the heart of   Restorative Justice conferences held at         a 19% reduction in violence.
Her     Majesty's      Prison      Bullingdon    Bullingdon were part of the Ministry of
(pictured). Peter Patrick, RJC Chair,            Justice research sample which indicated a       Presentations followed from SORI and
opened the event, recognising the important      33% reduction in the frequency of               Sycamore Tree (see page 5), two prison- based
contribution RJC events have made to the         reoffending by prisoners. Geoff and Julie       interventions, which teach restorative
development of the Restorative Justice           shared with us the lessons they have learnt     principles and bring together victims and
movement by nurturing the sharing of ideas       as a manager and as a practitioner in the       offenders of similar, though unconnected,
and best practice.         The day’s first       seven years since that first conference.        crimes to raise victim awareness with
presentation by Geoff Emerson & Julie                                                            offenders. We also learnt about pioneering
Tartakover of Thames Valley Restorative          Vicky O'Dea, former Governor of Ashfield        restorative work being done to divert offenders
Justice Service (RJS) was a shining              Young Offenders Institute, delivered a          from custody by West Yorkshire Probation
example of this.                                 vibrant presentation on how, the embracing      Service and closed with group discussion and
                                                 of restorative practice helped to transform     reflection on the day's presentations.
Thames Valley RJS held their first               Ashfield into an award-winning model of
Restorative Justice conference back in           best practice. A Youth Justice Board            A detailed transcript of the event is available
2001 in a room just next door to where the       evaluation of Ashfield following the            at www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Events
Events
                                                                                                                  08




    For up-to-date information on RJ events go to: www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Events


                                             European Forum for                               Aim Project
                                             Restorative Justice                                 AIM WEEK
                                               “Restorative Justice and              Date: Monday 13th – Friday 17th July
                                           Restorative Practices – Are they              Venue:Carolina Way, Salford
                                           the same?” and “Building Social           AIM week is designed to share with
                                           Support for Restorative Justice”          delegates materials and training, as
RJC Spring Conference                      Date:Wednesday 3rd June – 5th June
                                                                                     well as providing delegates working
                                                                                     with children and young people who
  Restorative Justice and Social                   Leuven, Belgium                   display sexually harmful behaviour
    Change: How Nonviolent                                                           and their families with the opportunity
                                           Run in conjunction with the Forum's       to share practice issues and network.
   Communication Contributes               AGM over this three day period.These
     Date: Monday 20th April               seminars will deal with core issues for   Workshops include Sexually harmful
     Time: 10.45am - 4.15pm                Restorative Justice and provide an        behaviour and Restorative Justice –
  Venue:The Pierian Centre, Bristol        opportunity to meet colleagues from       can there be a link? Wednesday 15th
                                           all over Europe working in the field.     July, £90.
This conference will explore how
Nonviolent Communication can help us:          Summer School - Towards               For more information and programme
                                               Critical Restorative Justice          email aimproject@msn.com
• Be more fluent in the needs of others
and produce more positive outcomes.                      Practices
• Encourage others to cooperate,              Date: Monday 20th – 24th July
                                                                                        Hull Centre For
without coercion or manipulation.                   Barcelona, Spain                  Restorative Practices
• Develop restorative conversations                                                   Hull: The Riverside Community
enabling social agendas to be addressed    The summer school is aimed at
                                           trainers, practitioners, volunteers,      A Restorative Practices Conference
Presenters are experts in the above        researchers and programme managers        Date:Monday 15th June 9:30am - 3:30pm
fields and include Paul Crosland RJC,      in victim-offender mediation and other       Venue:The Freedom Centre, Hull
Founder of Mediation Support &             Restorative Justice practices.
                                                                                     We are delighted to invite all
Freelender.org and Paul Baker                                                        colleagues working with children,
Independent      conflict  consultant,     For more information on all these
                                           European Forum for Restorative            young people and families to attend
practitioner & therapist.                                                            this multi-disciplinary conference.
                                           Justice   events    please   visit
This event - on the skills, ethos and      www.euforumrj.org                         • Learn about successful Restorative
practical application of Nonviolent                                                  Practice strategies that build and
Communication         in     generating     This events listing is                   strengthen communities
responsibility and social change - costs
just £25 for members and £50 for non-
                                               not exhaustive                        • Participate in multi-disciplinary
                                                                                     workshops led by leading practioners.
members and supporters of the RJC.         For a full list of events                 • Network with colleagues
For information and booking contact
                                           on Restorative Justice
call 020 7653 1992 or email                  and related fields                      Attendance costs £115 per delegate,
                                                                                     for more information email
admin@restorativejustice.org.uk                 please visit                         HCRPadmin@goodwin-centre.org
                                             www.restorativejustice.org.uk

  Join the RJC
  If you believe in Restorative Justice, join the Restorative Justice Consortium and help support our work.
  Members benefit from free copies of Resolution, monthly emails about the latest Restorative Justice news
  and events, free entry to our regular Forums and further discounts on all our events as well as the
  opportunity to place articles and advertise on the RJC website.
  We rely on our membership to help us promote the use of Restorative Justice and your support will help us
  do even more.
  Join us now by downloading an application form from www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Membership
  or call the RJC on 020 7653 1992 to sign up by phone or for more information.

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Resolution spring 2009

  • 1. Spring 2009 Resolution 32 News from the Restorative Justice Consortium A New Dawn for Restorative Justice? Government plans for a new adult strategy Sycamore Tree Victim awareness and Restorative Justice Restorative Justice in Ireland Challenges facing the National Commission Company number:4199237 Charity number:1097969
  • 2. Contents Introduction Welcoming and supporting people using 02 Introduction W elcome to the Spring edition of Resolution. restorative practices across all sectors is core to the role and remit of the RJC. During April we'll be working with Skills for Justice 03 News in brief As many of you will know, our CEO Harriet to develop a new National Occupational Bailey left the RJC at the end of 2008 to Standard that reflects these more informal travel around the world.The Board and staff and preventive uses of restorative practice; 04 Restorative Justice in Devon of the RJC have been working closely with and our July Conference in Cardiff will be on and Cornwall our very supportive funders to find the Becoming a Restorative County - hearing resources to appoint a successor to Harriet. Interview: the new adult policy from people across the country who are But in the meantime, the RJC Board has already making this happen in their area, asked me to step in as Acting CEO, on a 05 Sycamore Tree: and encouraging new areas to get on board. temporary and voluntary basis, until we are Victim awareness and able to appoint a permanent full-time Restorative Justice It's also an exciting time for the RJC. Our successor. I have been involved in the RJC Membership Development Project, led by for many years - first as a colleague when 06 Restorative Justice in Ireland John Pepin Associates, is now complete.The leading the Home Office Restorative Justice project has given us some really clear Policy Team (2003 - 2005) and since 2006 07 Mediation is a joke feedback from you, our members, on our as a Board member. It's a joy and a privilege strengths and weaknesses and how you want to be able to serve the organisation in this Restorative Justice in Prison the RJC to develop in future - a summary of new way at this challenging and exciting the project findings and recommendations is time for both the RJC and Restorative 08 Events on the RJC website (see also page 3). The Justice nationally. Board has already acted on many of these recommendations, for example turning our Editor’s note Along with all the Board, I was delighted to Forum meetings into one-day Conference see the recent references in Parliament to Resolution is here to reflect Restorative events, and locating these during 2009 Restorative Justice, and in particular Justice and Restorative Approaches in across the country. The events programme Minister Shahid Malik's statement that " We all their forms and developments.To this kicked off with our excellent January 2009 are working with stakeholders, including the end we welcome your input and ideas. Conference on Restorative Justice in Restorative Justice Consortium, to develop Please get in touch if you would like to Prisons, held in Bullingdon Prison (see page a victim-focused adult restorative justice submit an article, have suggestions for a 7). Our Accreditation Project is also in full strategy that will build on learning from feature, ideas for what you would like swing and we will be sending out invitations pilots." The RJC continues to meet with covered, news of an event or would to attend three regional consultation Ministry of Justice (MoJ) officials to put simply like to share an experience with meetings on a Blueprint for Accreditation the case for new RJ services, building on the other readers. for restorative practice shortly. Overall, as very strong results of the four MoJ research the breadth of restorative practice and reports on Restorative Justice. The Cover picture ‘A Shropshire Scene’ restorative approaches grows and grows the Government has recognised the stunning contributed by Mark Fox - Fox IT. RJC is growing with it, both in terms of our impact of Restorative Justice on victims, membership and our vision for restorative including quantified reductions in post- Chris Igoe, Editor practices. traumatic stress symptoms, and their E:chris@restorativejustice.org.uk Restorative Justice strategy will now be led Thank you to all of you, our members, for from the Victims and Witnesses Unit of the Resolution is the quarterly your support through these tricky times MoJ (see page 4). We welcome this, and newsletter of the: without a full-time CEO. Your commitment have been working closely with the new to the RJC, willingness to contribute and Restorative Justice Consortium organisation Why me? Victims for passion for Restorative Jusitce keeps the Albert Buildings Restorative Justice to gain recognition for o r g a ni s a t io n 49 Queen Victoria Street the right of all victims of crime to and restorative London Restorative Justice. At the same time the practice going EC4N 4SA impact of Restorative Justice on reoffending and growing - the 27% drop in frequency found by the T: 020 7653 1992 through thick MoJ's own research, and the cost savings F: 020 7653 1993 and thin. this delivers for the Criminal Justice System E: info@restorative justice.org.uk - should not be overlooked. So the RJC will W: www.restorative justice.org.uk Lizzie Nelson continue to argue for Restorative Justice Acting CEO Company number: 4199237 services to be delivered in ways that meet the RJC Charity number: 1097969 needs of everyone involved - victims, offenders, their families and supporters, and ©2009 RJC the wider community. Not to be reproduced without permission These are exciting times for restorative The articles in this newsletter practices with the mushrooming of Interested in making a contribution? express the personal views of the restorative approaches in schools and the If you would like more information about authors and do not necessarily widespread use by police forces of the new writing an article for Resolution please email reflect the views of the RJC Youth Restorative Disposal (see page 4). info@restorativejustice.org.uk
  • 3. 02 | 03 News in brief RJC contributes to RJC Membership Development Survey new adult Restorative At the heart of the Restorative Justice Justice strategy Consortium (RJC) is our commitment to •An organisation with enthusiastic staff, The Government are currently in the providing relevant services for, and quick to respond to enquiries. process of developing their strategy for representing the views of, our members.To adult Restorative Justice, in the light of do this better we sought views of members Challenges for the RJC the Ministry of Justice research pilots on and non-members; our thanks to those •The RJC is a charity relying on voluntary RJ, which showed such positive results for who responded. The following brief donations and grant-funding for 95% of its victims and reoffending. Ministers have summary is based on their responses and a income. To become sustainable the RJC repeatedly named the RJC as a key series of follow-up interviews. must reduce its reliance on voluntary stakeholder in the development of the donations and needs to address the shortfall strategy and we shall be watching to see if The Survey revealed; between the income from, and expenditure our recommendations are acted upon. on, members. • a varied profile of members and supporters, active in many sectors of the • Widening its reach to groups that are not The RJC is calling on all its members to criminal justice, mediation and education already involved, perhaps by broadening show their support for Restorative Justice services at both local and central content. by writing to their MP. Please act now at government level. • Furthering publicity and lobbying work to this critical time in the development of • the RJC's crucial role as a central ensure government backing and increased Restorative Justice. resource and networking hub, allowing public awareness. people interested in different restorative • Locating events outside London. Why Me approaches to contribute to the development of the movement. Changes to Membership This new organisation has employed its •Two categories of membership: Supporters first member of staff. Sara Hall’s first • a high level of satisfaction with the RJC's contribution to the development of who wish only to keep up to date with news tasks as Why Me co-ordinator will include and developments; Membership for those restorative practice; membership of RJC is establishing Why Me as an independent considered "very useful". who require services to help develop practice charity and developing the organisation’s and career progression. relationships with victims who have • suggestions for improvements, the main ones in the areas of development of • Revenue from membership will need to be benefitted from or otherwise support increased to account for 10% of RJC Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice, training and resources, research, advocacy and events. income through increases in the pricing of Individual and Organisational Membership. For more information go to www.why-me.org The recommendations aim to build on the •Events will be charged for in order to RJC's strengths, address the challenges recover the cost to the RJC of hosting the Regional Conference that it faces and make the most of the event. Events will be open to all, with Programme announced opportunities. members benefitting from a preferential rate. Restorative Justice and Social Change: Developing the RJC How Nonviolent Communication Strengths of the RJC Contributes is the first of our quarterly •A neutral and independent umbrella body • Employment of a Development Officer to conferences to be held outside of London, able to bring together different strands of develop our relationship with existing practice and thought. members and reach out to new members and in response to recommendations in our supporters in all fields of restorative recent membership review. • A central hub of expertise and practice. knowledge of restorative practice, a good •Encourage members to help promote the Our summer conference Becoming a reference point for practitioners, the media RJC and the benefits of joining. With a Restorative County is also planned to be and the public. larger body of members and supporters the held outside of the capital. • A respected advocate for Restorative RJC will be better able to represent the field Justice, keeping Restorative Justice on the and influence policy. News in full agenda of policy-makers and developing its principles. For a full round-up of all the latest news make sure you receive our monthly E- bulletin. This resource is available to all members, and supporters and includes About Us Restorative Justice can give victims the chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime, to get answers, receive an apology and move on with information on events, vacancies and their lives. It holds offenders to account whilst giving them the chance to understand resources. In the latest issue find out how the real impact of what they’ve done and to do something to repair the harm. a minute-wielding pensioner has renewed calls for Restorative Justice in Devon, Restorative principles are also being used successfully in schools, workplaces, care what the Lib Dems say about Restorative homes, health services and communities without the labels of victim and offender . Justice and what’s going on in Somerset, Yorkshire and North America. The Restorative Justice Consortium is the national voice for Restorative Justice.We provide information about Restorative Justice to the public; support and resource our For your copy email members who deliver Restorative Justice, and promote the development and use of info@restorativejustice.org.uk today. Restorative Justice.
  • 4. Restorative Justice in Devon and Cornwall Interview:Policy Lead National Meet the Few forces have as good a history as know) an excellent platform for for Restorative Justice Devon and Cornwall Police when it Restorative Justice. RJC:Who are the OCJR? comes to Restorative Justice, having been involved in its development since Within the Devon and Cornwall Andrea Dias: The organisation reports to the Justice Secretary, the Home Secretary 2001. When the Force was not selected Constabulary, as with some other forces, and the Attorney General. Having to trial the official pilot of the Youth the move from Sanctioned Detections to trilateral status ensures a joined-up Restorative Disposal, Chief Constable Public Satisfaction data and Positive approach to criminal justice reform. The Simon Otters gave the green light for the Outcomes provides frontline policing Victim and Witness Unit of the OCJR force to pilot their own version. PC Phil resources the opportunity to utilise supports the delivery of services to victims Skedgell brings us an update. Restorative Outcomes (including the of crime. more complex full RJ Conference) as a What is the OCJR's responsibility for S ince my last update in Resolution performance measure. Restorative Justice? (edition 26, summer 2007) the use of We are now using the Youth Restorative The Victim and Witness Unit is tasked with RJ has increased significantly within Disposal (YRD) as a means of raising the impetus for a more many Police Forces within England and encouraging Young People to consider victim-led approach to adult Restorative Wales. As many of you will know, a the effects of their offending behaviour - Justice with Local Criminal Justice senior officer, Assistant Chief Constable Boards. Gary Shewan (Cheshire) has been within a restorative environment - whilst appointed as the Association of Chief enabling the force to be "measured" What are the benefits of placing RJ Police Officers (ACPO) lead for within our new performance within the Victim and Witness Unit? Community and Restorative Justice. environment. This also provides Young The research findings from the Ministry of People with an opportunity to avoid a Justice funded pilot projects highlighted The Home Office has also relaxed the criminal record for their first offence the positive impact of some Restorative measurement of Police Forces’ (assuming a number of other conditions Justice models on victims (particularly the 'Sanctioned Detection' rates. This has are met) and provides an excellent conferencing model). Our aim is to help been a restrictive practice historically opportunity for learning. victims have a voice in the Criminal because Restorative Justice was not a Justice System and Restorative Justice is formally recognised measure.Thus there Whilst still in its infancy, the YRD does a good way of doing this. If delivered was no incentive for the Police Service finally provide victims of crime with a effectively it can also help increase their much greater voice within the formal confidence in the system whilst addressing to use Restorative Justice, as there was Criminal Justice setting. It is also our reoffending. no performance reason for doing this. hope that this youth disposal can also be What work is the Victim and Witness Unit This change in performance regime has replicated within the adult setting doing on Restorative Justice at present? now enabled forces to respond more (imaginatively we may call it an Adult We are currently having discussions with a freely to the needs of their communities, Restorative Disposal!). range of partners on a future strategy for rather than detection rates. At the time adult Restorative Justice (including of this relaxation, Forces are now In relation to the YRD, some of the ACPO, the Restorative Justice Consortium measured by the Home Office public feedback from victims involved in the and third sector victim services like Victim satisfaction data - providing (as we all process has been fantastic. One elderly Support). There is already a lot of good lady in Cornwall was so impressed at work underway and some areas already being able to meet the offender that she see Restorative Justice as a key criminal didn't want any reparation (although justice tool. We intend to work with the she did receive an apology). Another 3 Local Criminal Justice Boards to scope youths that damaged a wall in a school existing provision across the country and assisted in re-building the wall. highlight best practice. Our aim is to raise the impetus of adult Restorative Justice by The mainstreaming of the use of highlighting its benefits as a positive Restorative Justice also comes with service for victims. genuine concerns and issues over effective monitoring to ensure that 'true' Andrea Dias is the Restorative Justice Restorative Justice is being used - rather Policy Lead at the Office of Criminal than another process under the guise of Justice Reform. being restorative. Thus far, those The Restorative Justice Consortium is concerns have not been realised within calling on all our members to act now at our Force. this crucial time in the development of the Government’s adult Restorative Justice PC 4412 Phil Skedgell strategy. Force Restorative Justice Support Officer,Territorial Policing Department Please show your support for Restorative Photo provided by Devon Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Police Justice by writing to your local MP & Cornwall Constabularly philip.skedgell@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk through www.theyworkforyou.com
  • 5. 04 | 05 Sycamore Tree: Victim awareness and Restorative Justice Anne Mason is a Consultant at Sycamore Tree, an intensive programme running in prisons across the country. Sycamore Tree brings together unconnected victims and offenders with the aim of raising victim awareness among prisoners whilst providing victims with an opportunity to share their stories and gain insights into the behaviour of offenders. We look forward to hearing about the stories and people involved in the programme in a future edition of Resolution, but first Anne informs us about the programme itself. P rison Fellowship International (PFI) is the world's largest and most extensive criminal justice ministry - a global Volunteers at a training event association of over 100 national Prison Fellowship organisations. PFI's Centre for The name 'Sycamore Tree' is taken from objectives, measurable learning outcomes, Justice and Reconciliation promotes the New Testament Bible story of and professional standards. restorative justice initiatives that work to Zacchaeus, a thieving tax collector who heal broken relationships, repair the made amends to his victims and Alongside anecdotal feedback a damage done by crime and restore the community. The programme is faith based psychometric questionnaire called Crime offender to a meaningful role in society. but it is not faith promoting. Sycamore Pics II is used to measure changes in each Tree is offered to all faiths and people with prisoners' attitudes after taking part in Sycamore Tree was developed by PFI and no faith. If interest in Christianity is Sycamore Tree. An evaluation of more than first run in Houston (USA), then in New expressed as a result of the programme, 2,000 Crime Pics questionnaires was Zealand. It was first run in England and the offender is told they can explore their conducted by Sheffield Hallam University Wales at HMP The Mount in 1998 and has interest through the Chaplaincy and Alpha and indicates that the programme reduces since expanded to run in 34 prisons of all courses. attitudes that are known to be conducive to security categories, with more than offending behaviour. 12,000 offenders having taken part since "I am entirely committed to the its start. Sycamore Tree course… the benefits Additionally Prison Fellowship has recently commissioned a research project, are evident with regard to reducing Sycamore Tree is an in-prison programme supervised by Professor Lawrence Sherman re-offending and properly resettling of Cambridge University, to demonstrate run over 6 sessions (usually one per week) that aims to challenge prisoners' attitudes offenders." Prison Governor Sycamore Tree's effect on reducing to offending behaviour; raise awareness of reoffending. At the heart of this project will the impact of crime on victims and Sycamore Tree was awarded accredited be a randomised control trial, which will communities; and teach the principles and status by OCN (Open College Network) in rigorously compare recidivism of adult male application of Restorative Justice. 2003, and Prison Fellowship is an OCN participants and non-participants. The Sycamore Tree seeks to provide offenders approved centre of learning. Accreditation project will measure the frequency and with an opportunity to make an informed by an external body such as OCN validates severity of re-offending of the offenders choice to change their lives. the programme with clear aims and within one year and also two years of release. The research will provide evidence for Prison Fellowship and significant policy-makers of the economic and human value of this programme. The future holds three key challenges for Prison Fellowship and Sycamore Tree to address: continued and sustainable funding, compliance with the accreditation requirements of Prison Service Order 4350 'Effective Regime Interventions' and the recruitment, training and support of volunteer tutors, victims and group facilitators to present the programme. Prison Fellowship England and Wales was formed in 1979 as a Christian faith-based voluntary sector organisation to restore all those affected by crime. www.sycamoretree.org.uk Sycamore Tree, Birmingham 01621 843232
  • 6. Restorative Justice in Ireland: Challenges facing the National Commission he National Commission on Two Restorative Justice pilot programmes option", if it were used for serious T .......Restorative Justice was established deal with adult offenders at the court stage. offences. It will be important to balance in March 2007 to examine Restorative The Nenagh Community Reparation the public interest in the distribution of Justice and to make recommendations as Project offers an additional option to the proportionate punishment and general to its future direction in Ireland. The Court for persons who plead guilty to, or are deterrence against the growing consensus Commission has published an interim found guilty of, criminal offences.The focus amongst academics and practitioners that report to date and a final report is due is primarily on community reparation, as restorative interventions can be applied to mid 2009. opposed to mediation. Project records of certain types of serious offences. cases referred between 1999 and 2007 • The danger that Restorative The Current Situation: show very positive results but further Justice alternatives will supplement Restorative Justice at Juvenile Level research is needed for full evaluation. rather than replace existing procedures. Restorative Justice exists on a statutory It will be important not to focus exclusively The Tallaght Restorative Justice Service on offenders who would not ordinarily be basis for juveniles as per The Children Act offers either offender reparation or dealt with in the formal process, as this 2001. The Act is the most significant victim/offender mediation. Cases are court- would deny the potential of targeting diversionary strategy for juveniles in referred at the pre-sentencing stage at the individuals within the criminal justice conflict with the law and its objective is to discretion of the Judge and the Court system who could benefit from a restorative prevent young people from committing remains in charge of the process at all intervention. further offences. This Act provides a times. legislative basis for the Garda Youth Conclusion Diversion Programme to facilitate Major considerations for the Commission restorative cautioning and conferencing. Our present criminal justice system is A second programme provides family • The assumption that the rate of heavily reliant on custodial remedies, and conferencing for court-referred cases offender recidivism is the primary while "get tough" rhetoric may have public involving the Probation Service. measurement of the success or failure of appeal, it is difficult to ignore the fact that Restorative Justice. Such a narrow focus approximately 25% of inmates are back in The Youth Diversion Programme is used for assessing the merits of Restorative prison within a year, and 50% re-offend for a wide variety of offences, from the Justice fails to take into account its many within four years. In addition to the most serious, such as robbery and other aims and objectives, such as victim exorbitant costs of custody, the very high assaults, to those of a less serious nature, satisfaction, its potential to redress the rate of recidivism amongst those released such as under-age drinking and minor harm caused by crime, and its ability to give should be persuasive authority to explore thefts. It uses a package of interventions those directly affected a voice in the process other methods and remedies. designed to challenge juveniles' offending of reconciliation. It is imperative that behaviour by engaging the support of the policy-makers retain a sense of balance However, it is paramount that Restorative offender's family and the extended between the crime reduction potential and Justice is not "oversold" in terms of its community. the other major benefits offered by ability to reduce recidivism. Restorative Restorative Justice initiatives. Justice is not solely about reducing re- Under the second programme, the Court • How Restorative Justice can be offending rates, but has many objectives may direct the Probation Service to incorporated into the existing criminal which can benefit victims, offenders, and arrange a family conference prior to justice system. In theory, Restorative society at large. sentencing.The Court can then approve or Justice could be located anywhere inside or amend any agreed action plan and order outside the criminal justice system. It can be argued that Restorative Justice compliance; where no plan is agreed the However there is no single blueprint for delivers a more humanistic and efficient Court may formulate one, or resume building a restorative system and the way of dealing with victims and offenders. prosecution proceedings. This is also the Commission will need to acknowledge this. It holds the promise of restoring a victim's case where the Court is dissatisfied with • Whether or not Restorative material and emotional loss, safety, the plan. Justice needs a legislative basis to damaged relationships, dignity and self- function consistently. The lack of a legal respect. It also has the potential to reduce Restorative practices, in a school setting, framework should not necessarily be the use of custodial sanctions, by offering are also operated in some areas. detrimental to the success of Restorative an additional sentencing disposal and Justice, however, enshrining Restorative diversionary option to the judiciary. Restorative Justice at Adult Level Justice in legislation would promote predictability, certainty of use, legitimacy, The Commission has much to consider over There is no corresponding statutory basis the coming months and in the current for Restorative Justice at adult level but and uniformity of application. economic climate it is hoped that the there is scope for the prosecution • The range of offences and types potential of Restorative Justice within our authorities to divert cases from court of offenders most appropriate for a society is not lost on our policymakers. under the Garda Adult Cautioning restorative intervention. Attention should Scheme. be paid to the evidence-based research Martin Haverty has worked as lead which has shown that Restorative Justice researcher with the National Commission The scheme, which is not currently can be more effective with more, rather on Restorative Justice, and his new website grounded in Restorative Justice principles, than less, serious crimes. This suggests that there is little basis for the view that www.restorativejusticeonline.ie is in is aimed at low level crimes. While it may development. have potential to encompass a restorative Restorative Justice interventions are only dimension, such a move is susceptible to appropriate for first time and juvenile offenders, or less serious offences. This article is a summary of Martin’s full "net widening", targeting individuals who paper which is available at would not ordinarily have come within the • The danger that Restorative www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Resources criminal justice system. Justice could be perceived as a "soft
  • 7. 06 | 07 Mediation is a joke! Conflict resolution in Burkina Faso It is in keeping with the restorative face of inhospitable conditions. In some ethnic groups the wife has a joking principles of inclusivity and respect that When conflicts do arise they are handled by relationship with her husband's brother (if Restorative Justice has been so inspired elected chiefs of families and villages (each any) or a prescribed cousin (and the and influenced by anthropological with about 100-300 people) who act as husband with his wife's sister, grandparents observations around the world - most mediators. Women are present as advisers, with grandchildren, and so on). They make famously by the approaches to conflict children as learners. This method is flowery jokes with each other, not too resolution of the Maori and the indigenous supplemented by the remarkable tradition strongly, with satirical elements. If for peoples of North America. Here Dr Martin of 'joking relationships' which the clans, example the wife cannot resolve problems Wright relates the practices of the West ethnic groups, and districts have with each with her husband on her own, she asks her African country Burkina Faso and other. A visitor may be surprised to see two joking partner for help. With the husband discovers that joking can be a serious men arguing loudly in the street and present, she enacts a humorous scene, approach to conflict resolution. gesticulating, from time to time breaking dressed up in metaphors, about the joys of out into laughter about stereotypes of each married life, her own feelings and needs, T here is much scope for conflict in one other's ethnic group (but not about with scattered references to any marital of the poorest countries of the world, with mothers, physical handicaps or sexuality), tensions. The brother-in-law listens 61 ethnic groups and 8 large language and then parting with good wishes for their attentively, jokes with her about everyday families. Burkina Faso (known as Upper families and ethnic groups. life, and drops in some ideas about handling Volta until 1983) is a mainly rural West the conflict. It is important not to blame the African country about thee times the size of There are numerous stories about how this husband or show him up. He acts as if he Austria, with a population of 1.2 million. Its system originated, telling for example about wasn't listening; so he keeps his dignity major religions are Christian, Muslim and a times when men quarrelled and were ready while hearing his wife's feelings and needs. natural religion in which the other two are to go to war over trivial matters. The clever seen as living equally 'under the roof' of the forefathers put a stop to this lust for With ever-increasing westernisation the highest existence, DO (God). This religious fighting by introducing the joking enormous cultural and emotional richness perspective stresses that their ancestors relationships. They exist in practically all of these traditions is threatened; but the wish them to live together with consent, co- social groupings, and between ethnic groups African renaissance proposed by the South operation and harmony, and may be linked however small. Now even children learn African president Thabo Mbeki is being felt. to the lack of religious conflict there. It how to do it. Diversity is seen as enriching, appears to have survived the colonial legal to be contained, not feared. Real conflicts Summarised by Martin Wright from two system introduced in 1919, partly perhaps are generally prevented by being turned into articles by Sonja Steixner in Perspektive because of the need to co-operate in the comic, verbal ones. Mediation (Vienna), 2007 (3) and 2008 (3) Restorative Justice in Prison HMP Bullingdon RJC January Event Report The RJC held its first event of 2009, day’s presentations were delivered. The introduction of Restorative Justice recorded Restorative Justice in Prison, in the heart of Restorative Justice conferences held at a 19% reduction in violence. Her Majesty's Prison Bullingdon Bullingdon were part of the Ministry of (pictured). Peter Patrick, RJC Chair, Justice research sample which indicated a Presentations followed from SORI and opened the event, recognising the important 33% reduction in the frequency of Sycamore Tree (see page 5), two prison- based contribution RJC events have made to the reoffending by prisoners. Geoff and Julie interventions, which teach restorative development of the Restorative Justice shared with us the lessons they have learnt principles and bring together victims and movement by nurturing the sharing of ideas as a manager and as a practitioner in the offenders of similar, though unconnected, and best practice. The day’s first seven years since that first conference. crimes to raise victim awareness with presentation by Geoff Emerson & Julie offenders. We also learnt about pioneering Tartakover of Thames Valley Restorative Vicky O'Dea, former Governor of Ashfield restorative work being done to divert offenders Justice Service (RJS) was a shining Young Offenders Institute, delivered a from custody by West Yorkshire Probation example of this. vibrant presentation on how, the embracing Service and closed with group discussion and of restorative practice helped to transform reflection on the day's presentations. Thames Valley RJS held their first Ashfield into an award-winning model of Restorative Justice conference back in best practice. A Youth Justice Board A detailed transcript of the event is available 2001 in a room just next door to where the evaluation of Ashfield following the at www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Events
  • 8. Events 08 For up-to-date information on RJ events go to: www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Events European Forum for Aim Project Restorative Justice AIM WEEK “Restorative Justice and Date: Monday 13th – Friday 17th July Restorative Practices – Are they Venue:Carolina Way, Salford the same?” and “Building Social AIM week is designed to share with Support for Restorative Justice” delegates materials and training, as RJC Spring Conference Date:Wednesday 3rd June – 5th June well as providing delegates working with children and young people who Restorative Justice and Social Leuven, Belgium display sexually harmful behaviour Change: How Nonviolent and their families with the opportunity Run in conjunction with the Forum's to share practice issues and network. Communication Contributes AGM over this three day period.These Date: Monday 20th April seminars will deal with core issues for Workshops include Sexually harmful Time: 10.45am - 4.15pm Restorative Justice and provide an behaviour and Restorative Justice – Venue:The Pierian Centre, Bristol opportunity to meet colleagues from can there be a link? Wednesday 15th all over Europe working in the field. July, £90. This conference will explore how Nonviolent Communication can help us: Summer School - Towards For more information and programme Critical Restorative Justice email aimproject@msn.com • Be more fluent in the needs of others and produce more positive outcomes. Practices • Encourage others to cooperate, Date: Monday 20th – 24th July Hull Centre For without coercion or manipulation. Barcelona, Spain Restorative Practices • Develop restorative conversations Hull: The Riverside Community enabling social agendas to be addressed The summer school is aimed at trainers, practitioners, volunteers, A Restorative Practices Conference Presenters are experts in the above researchers and programme managers Date:Monday 15th June 9:30am - 3:30pm fields and include Paul Crosland RJC, in victim-offender mediation and other Venue:The Freedom Centre, Hull Founder of Mediation Support & Restorative Justice practices. We are delighted to invite all Freelender.org and Paul Baker colleagues working with children, Independent conflict consultant, For more information on all these European Forum for Restorative young people and families to attend practitioner & therapist. this multi-disciplinary conference. Justice events please visit This event - on the skills, ethos and www.euforumrj.org • Learn about successful Restorative practical application of Nonviolent Practice strategies that build and Communication in generating This events listing is strengthen communities responsibility and social change - costs just £25 for members and £50 for non- not exhaustive • Participate in multi-disciplinary workshops led by leading practioners. members and supporters of the RJC. For a full list of events • Network with colleagues For information and booking contact on Restorative Justice call 020 7653 1992 or email and related fields Attendance costs £115 per delegate, for more information email admin@restorativejustice.org.uk please visit HCRPadmin@goodwin-centre.org www.restorativejustice.org.uk Join the RJC If you believe in Restorative Justice, join the Restorative Justice Consortium and help support our work. Members benefit from free copies of Resolution, monthly emails about the latest Restorative Justice news and events, free entry to our regular Forums and further discounts on all our events as well as the opportunity to place articles and advertise on the RJC website. We rely on our membership to help us promote the use of Restorative Justice and your support will help us do even more. Join us now by downloading an application form from www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Membership or call the RJC on 020 7653 1992 to sign up by phone or for more information.