Restorative Justice Service
What is the Restorative Justice Service?
Our Restorative Justice service is one of Victims First specialist services. It is provided by Thames Valley Restorative Justice Service (TVRJS) and helps victims achieve closure by delivering Restorative Justice options.
What is Restorative Justice (RJ)?
RJ is about communication between victims and offenders. It empowers victims by giving them an opportunity to both ask questions of and explain to offenders the real impact of the crime. Offenders are held to account for what they have done and encouraged to take responsibility and make amends. RJ therefore aims to increase the empowerment and wellbeing of the victim after the crime and informs the experience of the offender in planning their life for the future.
Government research demonstrates that Restorative Justice provides an 85% victim satisfaction rate, and a 14% reduction in the frequency of re-offending.
Possibilities for restorative processes include:
- contact or indirect contact via a facilitator or others
- the "shuttle process" - where the facilitator goes back and forth between the parties
- the exchange of written correspondence directly between victim and offender
- RJ "conferences" - where a facilitator brings together a victim and offender and together they talk through the offence and its impact
- direct reparation or indirect reparation may then be agreed between the participants as part of a conference agreement
- a meeting between victim and offender takes place after the preparation of both parties who have given their full and informed consent to taking part in a face-to-face meeting. The process will take place at the pace determined by the participants and may include meetings with other key figures, including family, friends and supporters. The process is about building understanding and confidence, with a face-to-face meeting and an agreement on some form of reparation being the end of a journey.
Refer yourself or someone else to TVRJS
If you would like to get support from our Restorative Justice Service for yourself or someone else you can do so by calling us or completing our online referral form with the details of the person who requires the support.