7136560
Description
Mind Map by Adele Shire, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Adele Shire
almost 8 years ago
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Restorative Justice Evaluation
- It is suggested that offenders that accept the help of restorative justice are often already contemplating
a life without as much or any crime. By participating in the process they are more likely to evaluate their
reasons to stop committing a similar crime they are being punished for and possibly will stop
committing altogether (Shapland, Robinson, Sorsby 2011). 54% of youth offenders that are involved in
restorative justice do not reoffend. This is compared to 63% that are given other community sentences
(Restorative Justice Council 2015).
- However, it has been argued that restorative justice has not been directly linked to
reoffending. This is because of the voluntary factor of the programme and that offenders
that partake in the programme are less likely to reoffend as they obviously already feel guilt
and want to give something back to the victim. (Walgrave 2002) Consequently the
participants of restorative justice are those who have only committed a minor crime and so
their offender’s restorative justice targets are at low risk of reoffending. (Criminol 2002)
- Restorative justice can normalise a crime as it aims to view it as less of a moral outrage
and more of a simple matter with members of the community, it could reduce the
sense of immorality which attaches itself to crime. (Bussmann 1992)
- Furthermore, it recognises the impact of social injustice and addresses these rather than provide
offenders with legal or formal justice and victims with no justice at all. It recognises the victim as a
damaged / hurt person and understands their reform is important. (Criminol 2002). Victims have been
known to say that they feel less anger towards the offender and a positive result has been reached as an
outcome (Kurki 2003).
- A programme like restorative justice generally relies on other criminal justice organisations to make
appropriate referrals. This means in order for them to engage in the process they have to share the
same philosophy, agree that it is a priority and have a sufficient framework in place for it to work.
(Crawford & Newburn 2003, Hoyle 2002) This can cause inconsistencies as different police forces will
think different offences can be resolved through restorative approaches and others won’t. (Criminal
Justice Joint Inspection, no date) Furthermore, participants are not carefully assessed before being put
forward for the programme which can lead to them not being familiar with the process and possibly not
being psychologically ready. (Morris et al 1993)
- Specifically in social work restorative justice applies the key underlying and unifying aspects. It promotes
empowerment by giving the victim and offender the option to opt in to the programme. By doing this all
parties are given the authority of choice which for social workers is a goal purpose. Social justice for
social work is a concept that seeks to advance the outcomes for groups that are disregarded or
encounter barriers in society. (Beck, Kropf, Leonard 2011). Restorative justice is used by vulnerable
groups of people their place in society can be blinkered because of their misdemeanour. Social justice
and restorative justice is therefore linked by social workers as they use it in order to integrate the
offender back into the community by getting the victim to see the reparation that has been made get
clarity on the changes that the person has made in order to be accepted back into society. (Reisch, 2016)
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