Restorative Justice & The Probation Service
An Overview of Restorative Justice within
Probation Service Practice
&
 Presentations from Probation funded
community based Restorative Justice Projects
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Probation Service and Restorative
Justice - An overview
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Probation Service Mission, Values and Ethos
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Probation Service Strategic Goals
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Restorative Justice in the Probation Service
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Probation Service and Victims
Strategic Goals:
To reduce re-offending to create safer communities
Reduce re-offending and victimisation through
promoting and managing community
sanctions
Build and develop strategic alliances and
partnerships
Enhance our organisational capability,
excellence and innovation
Restorative Justice
within Probation Practice
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Dedicated Restorative Justice projects (Reparation Panels /
Victim Offender Mediation)
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Family Conferencing - Children Act 2001 (Conferencing)
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Community Service / Community Return ( Reparation)
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Midlands Traveller Conflict and Mediation Initiative (Victim
/ Offender Mediation)
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Development of Restorative Thinking and Restorative
Dialogue in the Assessment and Supervision of Offenders
Probation Service and Victims
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Victim Charter
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Victim Services Co-ordinator – ‘Single Point of
Contact' Information, Support & Referral
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Victim Impact Assessments
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Victim Sensitive Approach to Working with
Offenders
Brief Overview 2000 – 2010
Restorative Justice Services
& Nenagh Community Reparation Services
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RJS and NCRP established 2000
Providing Reparation Model to local courts
Low tariff offences
First time / low level Offenders
Completion DPOA / Strike out
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RJS – also provides Victim / Offender Mediation
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Core elements of the Restorative Model
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Court referred - Pre- sentence
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Reparation panels (Stakeholders)
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Contract of reparative actions
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Supervision of contract
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Return to court for sanction
National Commission
on Restorative Justice
- Report 2009
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Recommendations …
Particular focus on 3 models
Offender Reparation
Victim Offender Mediation
YPP Conferencing
Acknowledging potential benefits for victims
Improve cost effectiveness of the models
Existing services to expand
Accommodate higher tariff cases / offenders
Increase number of case referrals
Advancing National Commission Report
Recommendations / Targets
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Structural and organisational change
Reallocation of resources
Reviewing the service delivery model
Facilitating the participation of victims
Expand the geographical area of service delivery
and provide service to more Courts
Promote the Higher Tariff model and engage the
key stakeholders in the new locations and courts
Identify opportunities for further involvement and
input from community sector
Results and Outcomes
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Positive buy in from the stakeholders
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Significant increase in number of referring courts and
referrals
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Models now processing Higher Tariff offences
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Changing profile of the referred offender
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Increased focus on victim interests
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Court sanction – changing context
Challenges and Opportunities
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Managing future growth within the context of current
resources whilst maintaining a high standard of service
delivery and ensuring best practice
Ensuring the RJ models are delivering for all
- Participants
- Stakeholders
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Continuing to be proactive in identifying and providing
appropriate roles for the Community Sector
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Consolidating and strengthening relationships with the
stakeholders and learning from each others experiences
Aims of the Limerick RJ Project
(in conjunction with YPP)
Promote Community
Safety
Reduce the Fear of
Crime
Reduce the incidence
of youth crime and
anti social behaviour
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Project
What the Restorative Justice
Project is
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A Limerick Based project – which aims to
establish a model/framework for professional
practice in Restorative Justice with Young
offenders.
Working with young people aged 12-18years.
It is a multi agency response to youth
offending.
It promotes a new way of thinking in terms
of RJ practices across the community,
voluntary and statutory sector.
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Project
Restorative Justice Initiative
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Options:
1. Restorative Conference
2. Victim Offender Mediation
3. Victim Impact Panel
4. Victim Empathy Programme
5. Reparation
Case Study
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Violent Assault
Two Victims
Gang of Youths
Alcohol
Peer Pressure
Night Time
Quotes
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Young Person: “I was stuck for words......
I didn’t know how to say I was sorry”.
Victim: “Very positive, rewarding & a very
worthwhile process”.
Family Member: “Why wasn’t this done
years ago. I have seen huge changes in my
son since he started working here. I trust
him more”.
Limerick RJ - Progress to Date
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RJ Advisory Group
CSC- RP Subgroup
IIRP Training
Training Modules for RJ & VIP designed
RJ Volunteers Trained and in supervision
Pool of Victims trained for Victim Impact Panel
Victim Empathy Programmes designed
Prescriptive procedures for all RJ models
Host Agency for Reparation identified and staff trained.
Interagency collaboration with statutory, community and voluntary
sector
Procedures outlined for engaging victims of crime with An Garda
Siochana and Support After Crime
Next Steps
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Extend and strengthen our dedicated restorative justice
projects
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Increase awareness and promote the use of restorative justice
as a viable sanction
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Increased role for Community Members/ Volunteers
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Develop more inclusive and sensitive victim services
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Implement good practice and consistent standards
To Conclude …
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Offenders are at the centre of what we do
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Victims are at the centre of our concern
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Community is at the centre of our practice
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Restorative Justice has the potential to be at
the centre of the solution