Type of Organization(s) [government or non-government organizations such as universities]:
Government
Orgainzation Contact Information:
Department for Education and Skills, Reading Office
Violence Reduction in Schools Programme
Bulmershe Court
Woodlands Avenue
Reading
RG6 1HY
England
E-mail:g.robb@dfes.npslba.reading.ac.uk
Tel: 0118-3786825
Contact Person:
Graham Robb
Summary:
Home Office is focused on increasing the use of restorative justice in the Criminal Justice System, which includes developing awareness of where restorative justice works best. Most recently, it funded a new diversionary restorative justice pilot.
The completion of the Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (Youth Justice) requires familiarity with the Youth Justice Board’s Restorative Justice Reader, while at the same time providing a module dedicated to restorative approaches. The Youth Justice Board is also establishing a Foundation Degree in Youth Justice, which will include restorative approaches.
Description of the Organization’s Work in CRE
Home Office’s Youth Justice Board initially provided pilot restorative justice funding for a total of nine schools to address issues such as bullying and truancy. Four of the pilots have benefited from continued funding for their programs, in conjunction with joint Home Office and Department for Education and Skills (DES) funded Safer Schools Projects during 2004-5 (Restorative Justice: the government’s strategy – responses to the consultation document. (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/restorativestrategy.pdf).
Home Office’s restorative justice strategy began in July 2003. During the following 12 week consultation period, there were over 100 responses. "Some participants saw schools as the prime environment for applying restorative approaches with young people, where it can tackle exclusion, bullying, conflict and help build emotional literacy, as well as preventing crime, with wider positive effects within the local community (Restorative Justice: the government’s strategy – responses to the consultation document(http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/restorativestrategy.pdf).
Legislation and Policy Initiatives
The Government support of restorative justice is based on it ability to fulfill the needs of victims in the Criminal Justice System. “It can give victims a greater voice in the Criminal Justice System, allowing victims to impress upon the offender the real impact of their actions, receive an explanation and more meaningful reparation. For victims, research suggests that at least 75% of those who take part are glad they did so” (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs3/rjconsultreplies.pdf).
Resources
Publications (may be accessed via the following web site: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Restorative Justice – The Government’s Strategy July 2003
Best practice guidance for practitioners December 2004
Restorative Justice: the Government’s strategy – responses to the consultation document – May 2004
For additional information which may be useful please see the following web sites:
Home Office
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs3/rjconsultreplies.pdf
Youth Justice Board
http://www.youth-justiceboard.gov.uk/PractitionersPortal/PreventionAndInterventions/RestorativeJustice
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