Restorative justice register to launch
Joe Lepper
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The UK's first register of restorative justice professionals is to launch next month.
The Restorative Justice Council will make the register available to teachers, prison officers, police and local authorities looking to arrange meetings between victims and criminals.
The council hopes the register will also act as a quality benchmark for victims who are offered a restorative justice meeting as well as for employers looking to recruit an expert in the field.
Those on the register pledge to adhere the RJC’s code of conduct. While most will have a RJC-accredited qualification, such as the Level 4 diploma in restorative practice, there is provision to include experienced restorative justice experts who do not have a formal qualification.
This is through a "passport arrangement" whereby they will be asked to provide evidence of their restorative justice skills.
Those who have just started using restorative justice techniques can also join the register as associate members.
Lizzie Nelson, RJC director, said: "According to recent Ministry of Justice research, 85 per cent of victims involved in a restorative justice meeting are satisfied with the outcome and it reduces re-offending among perpetrators involved by 27 per cent.
"It is important for offenders as it gives them a chance to see the human impact of their behaviour."
The register will be available online and launches on 13 September.
The council hopes the register will also act as a quality benchmark for victims who are offered a restorative justice meeting as well as for employers looking to recruit an expert in the field.
Those on the register pledge to adhere the RJC’s code of conduct. While most will have a RJC-accredited qualification, such as the Level 4 diploma in restorative practice, there is provision to include experienced restorative justice experts who do not have a formal qualification.
This is through a "passport arrangement" whereby they will be asked to provide evidence of their restorative justice skills.
Those who have just started using restorative justice techniques can also join the register as associate members.
Lizzie Nelson, RJC director, said: "According to recent Ministry of Justice research, 85 per cent of victims involved in a restorative justice meeting are satisfied with the outcome and it reduces re-offending among perpetrators involved by 27 per cent.
"It is important for offenders as it gives them a chance to see the human impact of their behaviour."
The register will be available online and launches on 13 September.
