Survivor hopes Restorative Justice will help her reclaim sense of control and empowerment over man who raped her
A survivor from Merseyside is hoping that coming face to face with the man who raped her will allow her to take back a s...
Sometimes. But it doesn’t have to and it’s not expected to.
We have seen many, many Restorative Justice cases that have resulted in the victim forgiving the offender and that’s fantastic. However, that is not the purpose of Restorative Justice.
Instead, the purpose of Restorative Justice is to bring the victim of crime and the offender into open communication in a safe, mediated environment. It gives victims an opportunity to ask any questions they have about the crime and empowers them to have their voices heard. It can help to reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and PTSD, all of which are commonly seen in victims of crime.
For offenders, Restorative Justice gives them an opportunity to explain the offence and answer any questions. Being able to see the victim as a real person and to see the real impact of the crime can help the offender not re-offend. In fact, Restorative Justice reduces reoffending rates by 14%. It also gives offenders the opportunity to make amends where appropriate and possible.
Click here to find out more about Restorative Justice.
