Restorative Justice involves issues such as bringing the victim and offender together (where appropriate) to discuss the offence committed.
The vicitm has an opportunity to tell the offender how the crime has affected them and a discussion takes place.
Do you think this is a good idea?
Research suggests that it works well for both victim and offender with many offenders never offending again.
Let us know what you think!
Sir Charles Pollard will be interviewed live on air regarding the issue as one of the pioneers of the method in the UK.
What questions would you ask?
The vicitm has an opportunity to tell the offender how the crime has affected them and a discussion takes place.
Do you think this is a good idea?
Research suggests that it works well for both victim and offender with many offenders never offending again.
Let us know what you think!
Sir Charles Pollard will be interviewed live on air regarding the issue as one of the pioneers of the method in the UK.
What questions would you ask?
4 comments:
Hi Richard
Can you provide us with links to the research you mention? Also can you link us to info about Sir Charles Pollard so we know who he is?
On a personal note, my wife works as a volunteer on the local Youth Offenders Panel. As a policemen do you thing YOPs work as a way of preventing young people from re-offending. Or is it really a means for identifying groups of young people who are actually the *most* likely to re-offend?
timw
Youth offending panels are comprised of people who want to gain experiance to get a job in youth offending or probation, bored retirees, or people lacking in social opportunities.
Kids play the game as the alternative could be more punative.
Generalisations yes but not far off the mark. Referral orders are too much one size fits all. It should be left to the coalface worker to decide what,s needed and they should then be judged on results such as cost effectivity and reoffending rates. Bring back minimum appropriate intervention which was ditched because critics focussed on the minimum rather than the appropriate.
SWs and POs are no longer George Best, they are Vinny Jones. Bring back flair and put the power back with those who are qualified to exercise it. Why invest in CQSWs and Diplomas etc. if the decisions are then made by lay people and academics.
In addition to my previous perhaps cynical remarks; I would add that the problem with restorative justice is that victims and offenders don't "compete" on a level playing field. I believe a career criminal does not understand words like remorse, compassion, empathy, because there backgrounds are "streetfighting" and survival. Do the rest of us understand survival, law of the jungle. I doubt it.
In addition to my vitriolic statements I see I should be asking a question of Sir Charles.
Does he agree that that various methods of intervention come in and out of style and todays interventions are dictated by those who are most adept at manipulating statistics.
Would he not also agree that the major input should be on preventing offending, by having a more fair, just, society, rather than dealing with offending.
Legislation should be positive not negative.
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