Dealing with offending behaviour - Restorative justice programmes

Question 1

What is restorative justice programme

Answer 1

an attempt to rehabilitate the offender by getting them to cognitively understand the effect their crime has had on the victim and society. This could be direct reconciliation with the victim or in paying back the victim or wider society. This process ‘restores’ what the offender harmed

Question 2

What occurs during a meeting in restorative justice programme

Answer 2

victim and offender take part in a meeting supervised by a trained mediator. This meeting is collaborative and the victim is given the opportunity to explain the criminal the harm caused to them. The offender is encouraged to take responsibility

Question 3

What occurs during a reparation in restorative justice programme

Answer 3

the offender demonstrates acceptance of responsibility b in some way repaying, this could be a cash payment, or could be a form of community service

Question 4

Strength of restorative justice programmes

Answer 4

A Ministry of Justice evaluation of three restorative justice schemes. It was found there was a 14% reduction in recidivism. 62% of victims felt better only 2% worse. For every £1 spend on restorative justice, £8 was saved from recidivism.

Question 5

Limitation of restorative justice programmes

Answer 5

Restorative justice depends on the victim cooperating, this may not be the case if the victim feels the offender will be ‘playing along’ to avoid a harsher sentence

Question 6

General evaluation of dealing with offending behaviour strength

Answer 6

None of the ways of dealing with offending behaviour are mutually exclusive if all are somewhat effective they could all be used in a holistic combined approach

Question 7

General evaluation of dealing with offending behaviour limitations

Answer 7

Custodial sentences and behaviour modification can be argued not to have any long-term beneficial effects. But anger management programs offers transferable skills such as enhancing personal relationships outside the prison, and restorative justice develops empathy. However, the second two options require trained staff

Many members of society will only accept long and potentially unpleasant custodial sentences for offenders, seeing this a retribution. Seeing giving treats (behaviour modification) or potentially shorter sentences for engaging in workshops or victim meetings as unacceptable. This is problematic for policy makers and researchers trying to reduce recidivism in society