Restorative Justice

Question 1

What is a restorative justice scheme

Answer 1

Offender and victim interact to rebuild relationship

Uses different techniques such as face to face meetings with a facilitator, phone calls, letters financial reimbursement etc

Question 2

What is the aim of restorative justice schemes

Answer 2

Improve experience for victim

Encourage offender to take responsibility

Switches emphasis from needs of the state to needs of the victim

Allows victim to take an active role

Question 3

What is restorative justice based on

Answer 3

Healing and empowerment

Question 4

How does normal restorative justice occur

Answer 4

Supervised meeting between 2 parties is organised(monitored by trained facilitator)

Victim is able to confront offender and explain how they’ve been affected

Offender is able to reply and see the consequences of their actions

Question 5

What are the key features of the process of restorative justice

Answer 5

Focuses on acceptance of responsibility and positive changes for people who harm others rather than on punishment

Not restricted to courtrooms

Other relevant community members may also be involved(e.g. witnesses, family etc)

Active rather than passive involvement of all parties where possible

Focuses on positive outcomes for victim and offender

Question 6

What is the Restorative Justice Council and what is their role

Answer 6

RJC is an independent body who establishes clear standards for the use of RJ

They aim to support victims and specialists involved in the RJ

Question 7

What did researchers state the focus of RJ should be

Answer 7

Relationships instead of punishment

Question 8

What did early models of RJ focus on

Answer 8

Focused on only the offender and victim

Question 9

What do newer models of RJ focus on

Answer 9

Focuses on 3 stakeholders which are necessary for full restorative justice:

Victim
Offender
Community

Question 10

What are the benefits of the RJ to the victim

Answer 10

Empowerment - They feel a sense of personal power in general and partially over the offender

Gives victim a greater voice in criminal justice system

Gives victim closure

Question 11

What are the benefits of RJ to the offender

Answer 11

Opportunity to apologise and accept responsibility

Deeper understanding of the effects of their actions

Question 12

What are the benefits of RJ to the community and economy

Answer 12

Opportunity to rebuild a sense of community and mutual accountability

Saves money - £8 in savings for ever £! spent on restorative justice as it prevents costs due to reoffending

Question 13

Evaluate restorative justice

Answer 13

Real world application - Sherman and Strang - 20 face to face RJ studies across UK, USA and Australia all showed reduced reoffending rates(counter - studies used are all western - eastern cultures may focus on revenge)

RJ is easy to implement, flexible to individual situations and saves money - Shapland - Saves £8 for every £1 spent on restorative justice - RJ is both effective/cost effective (counter - Facilitators skill and community interaction can affect if RJ is effective

Feminist commentators believe RJ doesn’t work for all cases - E.g. domestic abuse as it doesn’t put both sides on equal power balance

Nomothetic approach - assumes all offenders will feel remorse and guilt over their actions