Ministry of Justice 2012 Restorative Justice Action Plan
The Ministry of Justice set out a strategy to build access, capacity and awareness of restorative justice across the criminal justice system in a Restorative Justice Action Plan, published in November 2012.
A Joint Justice Inspectorates report found that restorative justice in the UK is limited by "patchy" availability across the country, gaps in access across the stages of the justice system and inconsistent quality of restorative justice being delivered. This Action Plan aims to tackle these limitations.
The Restorative Justice Council (RJC) and many RJC members contributed to the development of the Action Plan. We welcomed this far-reaching Plan and look forward to working with government and partners to ensure the actions are implemented.
Launching the Action Plan, justice minister Jeremy Wright said:
"Many victims of crime get to see sentences being passed, but it’s not always enough to help them move on with their lives. We know that around 85% of victims who participated in restorative justice conferences were satisfied with the experience.
"That’s why I want restorative justice to become something that victims feel comfortable and confident requesting at any stage of the criminal justice system. Victims deserve access to a high standard of restorative justice no matter where they are in the country and at a time that’s right for them.
"Our Action Plan, published today, as well as new legislation that is currently before parliament to allow for pre-sentence restorative justice, commits us to making this a reality."
"Victims of crime deserve no less"
Graham Robb, chair of the RJC, and co-chair of the Restorative Justice Steering Group work which led to the Action Plan, says in his introduction to the Action Plan:
"To ensure that all victims of crime get access to high quality restorative justice key strategic actions are needed.
The RJC has taken the lead in promoting national evidence-based standards for restorative justice practice and in accrediting practitioners to ensure that practice is effective and safe. But we all share responsibility for ensuring that these recommendations are implemented, and the recommendations in this Action Plan document are clearly attributed to specific agencies and actors within the criminal justice system and beyond.
"We know that if we all play our part, restorative justice can be made much more widely available at local level, so that victims have a real chance to be heard, and ensuring offenders face up to and take responsibility for their actions. We all assert that victims of crime deserve no less."
"Restorative options vital" Victim Support
Welcoming the Action Plan, Javed Khan, CEO of Victim Support, said:
"As the leading charity for victims of crime, we welcome the government’s new Action Plan for restorative justice, particularly its commitment to focus on victims’ needs. Victims can benefit enormously from the chance to explain the impact of crime and seek an apology from the offender.
"A restorative option for the victims who want it at any stage is vital. But we would echo the need to raise awareness of restorative justice and its potential benefits to increase confidence in victims, so they can access it where appropriate. Contact with victims needs to be sensitive and consistent and their expectations need to be managed effectively."
