This article titled “Have you taken part in restorative justice?” was written by Guardian readers, for theguardian.com on Thursday 1st September 2016 12.43 UTCJohn Fawcett has joined the firm as Partner
A parliamentary committee has said victims of crime in England and Wales should be given the right to restorative justice, once the criminal justice system develops sufficient capacity.
Availability of the service is presently subject to a postcode lottery, with a report by the justice select committee cautioning that it may not be appropriate for certain offences – such as sexual assaults, domestic violence and hate crimes.
Restorative justice usually involves bringing together a victim and the offender in a face-to-face meeting or via video-conferencing. In some cases, trained facilitators pass messages back and forth between them and there is no direct contact. The aim is to make offenders understand the impact of their actions and to help victims repair the emotional damage they have endured. Both victim and perpetrator must be willing participants.
Public awareness of restorative justice remains relatively low, at 28%. The same poll, however, found that 80% of people questioned thought that victims should have the right to meet their offender.
If you have taken part in restorative justice we’d like to hear from you. As a victim did you find the process empowering? As an offender, do you think it helped you reduce the risk of reoffending? Whether you are a victim or an offender, or perhaps someone who has provided support or been a part of the process, share your experiences with us.
You can share your experiences with us (anonymously if you wish) by filling in the form below. We’ll include some of your responses in our reporting.
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