Methods Of Modifying Behaviour (2) - Restorative Justice

Question 1

Describe restorative justice (10)

Answer 1

P1- key components
Offender to communicate with victim
Focus of active rehabilitation
Allows the offender to see the impact of crime
Empowers victim
Not restricted to court rooms

P2- 2 key aims
1-rehabilitation of offenders:
Encourages criminal to accept responsibility for their actions - helps develop empathy for victim as they develop understanding = reduce recidivism
2-atonement for wrongdoing:
Two types=
Psychological - offender showing feelings of guilt/remorse
Physical - compensation e.g money/community service

Who is involved -
Watchel and McCold = starting point should be on relationships rather than punishment (crime harms people so justice requires the harm to be healed
3 stakeholders - offender, victim, community

P3- flexible - not always face to face
Can be = letters, phone calls, financial for physical damage

Question 2

Evaluation of restorative justice - effective mess = recidivism

Answer 2

S-strength as it does reduce reoffending
E-research shows for adult offenders RJ = more effective than prison sentence and for young offenders = equally as effective
C- however RJ council found recidivism risk still 37% after RJ
W- does help reduce crime

Question 3

Evaluation of restorative justice - ethics - psychological harm to victim/offender

Answer 3

S- weakness
E- forcing them to confront the harm they’ve caused may result in depression/suicidal thoughts and could trigger PTSD for offender
E-if psychological harm is caused by RJ it may go untreated
W-ethical breach that needs to be considered

Question 4

Evaluation of RJ - social implications- financial

Answer 4

Every £1 spent of RJ would save the criminal justice system £8 through reduced levels of recidivism
RJ can be paid for by fines paid by criminals n
However - skilled/expierenced individuals are needed to act as mediator + high drop out rates make it less cost effective