A new Restorative Justice (RJ) service is being launched in Norfolk and Suffolk which will complement and increase RJ current provision across the two counties.
Commissioned by Norfolk and Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioners, it will see a Victim Support RJ Service Manager and team leader working with a network of trained volunteers who will undertake the Restorative Justice process in appropriate cases.
The Victim Support team will work closely with police operational teams to identify relevant cases, assess them for suitability for the RJ process and then work with the victim and offender to arrange a meeting.
Initially, cases will be subject to some parameters, for example it will only involve adult offenders and will not include those cases which are already in the court system, but as the knowledge and experience of the team develops these parameters will be reviewed. Training of volunteers will take place in December and it hoped the first cases will be the subject of assessment and development soon after that.
This is a new opportunity to build on the good work that has already taken place in both counties to deliver a victim focused Restorative Justice Service. It will allow victims of crime, in appropriate cases, to have a voice and try to reach some understanding about what has happened and why.
The launch comes as National Restorative Justice Week (16 – 23 November) takes place.
The Ministry of Justice is supporting this annual event by running a public awareness raising campaign. Supported by the Restorative Justice Council, WhyMe? and the Chris Donovan Trust, it’s called “What would you do?”, and encourages people to think about whether they would meet somebody who committed a crime against them.
In addition to the national campaign, the Ministry of Justice has also published their Progress Report against the 2013 RJ Action Plan and MoJ’s new Action Plan for 2015-18.
Click below for more details
What would you do?
MoJ RJ Progress Report
MoJ Action Plan
Norfolk & Suffolk Criminal Justice Board 