The RJC is launching a new Restorative Service Quality Mark (RSQM) grant scheme, funded by the Ministry of Justice. The RSQM is our quality mark for services providing restorative processes. It demonstrates to commissioners and the public that organisations are committed to safe, quality restorative practice. More information about the RSQM can be found at www.rsqm.org.uk.
The Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, is carrying out a review of Victim Personal Statements (VPS) and is inviting victims to complete an online survey about their experiences of making a VPS at court and Parole hearings.
The review is intended to develop a better understanding of VPS processes and how agencies could make better use of them. It will also clarify the purpose of VPS and explore victims’ experiences and understanding of what it means for their VPS to be taken into account.
Polling carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the RJC found overwhelming support for the principles of restorative justice from members of the public, particularly those who had been victims of crime themselves. The polling was commissioned to understand public awareness, confidence and demand for restorative justice.
The RJC is pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of its restorative justice champions portfolio today. This provides an updated overview of the RJC’s current community of restorative justice champions who will help us highlight the importance of restorative work across England and Wales and explore opportunities for its future development.
This second, updated, edition of the champions portfolio provides an overview of the RJC's current community of more than 50 champions, their work, and interests in developing restorative justice. Working with our champions we will explore future opportunities and highlight the importance of restorative work across England and Wales.
A victim’s guide to restorative justice is a film for victims of crime explaining the different points in the criminal justice system where they can access restorative justice. It also tells them who they can contact if they want to make use of this approach.
The film uses animation to simply convey what can be a complicated process, and is aimed at victims who are considering restorative justice but may have questions about what to do next.
I first became interested in restorative justice when I was a masters student studying criminal justice policy at the LSE. Each week the course covered a topic and top of the reading list in the week focused on restorative justice was Nils Christie’s legendary 1977 article Conflicts as property. In that year I read countless academic articles, but it is probably the only one that I can remember with any clarity. It is certainly the only one that directly affected my future career choices.
Could you be a voice for the field of restorative practice? The RJC is looking for eight restorative practice experts and trainers to serve on its newly established Expert Advisory Group.
The Advisory Group will meet four times a year in London and will play an important role in developing RJC standards and guidance aimed at supporting best quality restorative practice. The role is unpaid but reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed.
The Restorative Justice Council has launched A victim’s guide to restorative justice, a new film for victims of crime explaining the different points in the criminal justice system where they can access restorative justice. It also tells them who they can contact if they want to make use of this approach.
The film uses animation to simply convey what can be a complicated process, and is aimed at victims who are considering restorative justice but may have questions about what to do next.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Tameside Division has become the first police force to achieve the Restorative Service Quality Mark (RSQM).
The award recognises the good quality, safe and sustainable restorative service provided by the police force, which joins 17 other RSQM awardees from sectors including criminal justice, education and care.
Gary Coglan, GMP’s restorative justice development officer, said: “The RSQM has ensured that our restorative justice services are of the exceptional national standard that victims of crime deserve.
