BUILDING THE CITY OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Marian Liebmann Nicholas McGeorge Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers) \Thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Ancillary Meeting Friday 15 April 2015

Values of Restorative Justice (1) Taking responsibility for one’s actions Using non-violent conflict resolution Recognising the harm done Willing to apologise and make amends Willing to be neighbourly

Outline What is a City of Restorative Justice Restorative Justice and processes Restorative Cities in the UK Next steps

Values of restorative justice (2) Reducing conflict by sharing resources more equally Not hitting people – children, partners, elderly Letting others know about hurts they are doing to you Censuring the act, not the person

What is a City of Restorative Justice A City of Restorative Justice is a city in which people, communities, organisations and institutions resolve conflict and repair harm by using restorative justice practices, processes and skills.

Values of restorative justice Not hitting people – children, partners, elderly Letting others know about hurts they are doing to you Censuring the act, not the person

Retributive and restorative RetributiveRestorative Crime is a violation of the state’s laws Crime is a violation of people and relationships Violations create guiltViolations create obligations Justice requires that the state determines blame (guilt) and imposes pain (punishment) Justice involves victims, offenders and community members in an effort to put things right Central focus is offenders getting what they deserve Central focus is victims’ needs and offender responsibility for repairing harm

Restorative Processes (1) Conflict mediation - in schools and communities An impartial mediator helps those in conflict to meet, hear each other and decide how to go forward in the future. The people involved, not the mediator, decide the content of the agreement. Victim-offender mediation – in the criminal justice system Similar to conflict mediation, but victim and offender are identified as such. Restorative conferencing – in schools, communities and justice system Similar in principle to mediation but involves families and members of the community, and uses a script of set questions.

Restorative Processes (2) Family group conferencing – for families and social welfare Similar to restorative conferencing but includes private family time to problem solve. Victim-offender groups – where actual victim or offender is not available Victims and offenders from similar crimes meet to hear from each other and gain understanding, e.g. burglary victims and burglars Reparation – for victim or community The action taken by the those causing harm to others to put right the damage Victim awareness – educating offenders/ bullies about effects onvictims

Case Study (Adult) Aggravated burglary

Two types of justice PunishingRestoring What laws have been broken?Who has been hurt? Who did it?What are their needs? What do they deserve?Whose obligations are these?

Benefits of Mediation/ Conferencing - Victims Put a face to the crime Ask questions of the offender Express their feelings Receive an apology/ reparation Educate offenders about the effects of their offences Sort out any conflicts

Benefits of Mediation/ Conferencing - Offenders Explain what happened Own the responsibility for their crime Find out the effect of their crime Apologise and/or offer reparation Reassess future behaviour

Benefits of Mediation/ Conferencing – Courts and Community Courts: Learn about victims’ needs Make more realistic sentences Communities: Accept apologies and reparation Help reintegrate victims and offenders

Mediation/ Conferencing at different stages Can take place at all stages: Handle in community or school Diversion at arrest by police Between conviction and sentencing Post-sentence, in the community or in prison

Restorative processes in the UK Neighbours Families Schools Work Care homes Criminal justice

Case Studies Truancy Family conflict

Cities of Restorative Justice in the UK Hull Bristol Norfolk County County Durham Cardiff & South Wales

Hull, population 258,000 Started with one primary school in 2007 Helped to turn school around from ‘failing’ to ‘outstanding’ Circle time, restorative practices Involving children, teachers, other staff – whole school approach Better behaviour, happier children, reduction in exclusions

Some School Statistics Collingwood Primary School 98.3% fewer classroom exclusions 75.0% fewer racist incidents 86.7% punctuality improvement Endeavour High School (Secondary) 45.6% fewer verbal abuse incidents 59.4% fewer physical abuse incidents 50% fewer theft incidents 62.5% fewer days staff absence (saving over £60,000 in 8 months)

Hull’s development From two schools to Riverside Project – trained 3500 staff at 12 primary schools, 2 secondary schools, children’s homes, family resource centres, social services, health services, police, community wardens, foster carers, volunteers. Moved on to train residential services, hostels, probation, prisons, hospitals, housing associations, victim support, businesses

Bristol, population 437,000 Many projects on conflict resolution, all vying with each other for attention, funds and priority. Very ‘unrestorative’ atmosphere Need to come together to speak with one voice before we could spread the word to others Dialogue needed, building relationships Practise what we preach!

Bristol – history of projects and steps 1987 Bristol Mediation – Community Mediation 1998 Bristol Youth Offending Team – some RJ 2001 Community Resolve – group conflicts & gangs 2007 Conference - Bristol as a Restorative City 2008 Police – using restorative conferencing to divert young offenders 2010 – small conference to work on being a restorative city

Bristol - now Restorative Bristol Board + website Professionals Advisory Group + regular workshops Bristol City Council – many staff trained Bristol Mediation Neighbourhood Justice Team – low-level crime Pathfinder Project – serious crime Police & Youth Offending Team & Probation Prisons Schools & Children’s Residential Units Hate Crime Project Restorative Parenting Project

Norfolk County, population 870,000 Schools 42 schools, all staff, trained in East Norfolk Reduction in school exclusions Improved school attendance Improved school attainment Reduction in absentees Community Community circles held for 150 adults and young people Reduction of about 60% in calls to police for Anti-Social Behaviour

County Durham, population 516,000 Whole systems culture change – part of the ‘day job’ Worked with 3,200 people, achieved restorative outcome 81% reduction in first time entrants to youth justice system 51% reduction in young people offending 50% reduction in calls to police from children’s homes 35 restorative justice conferences with adult offenders (only one has reoffended)

Case study (adult) David and Jenny: Burglary by prolific offender

Cardiff, South Wales, pop 352,000 Wales Restorative Approaches Partnership (WRAP) Youth Offending Service Cardiff Prison Citizens Advice Bureau Domestic Abuse Restorative Family Approaches (DARFA) including mediation and family group meetings Early intervention and prevention

Cardiff: Skills learned by families Improved listening and respectful communication Perspective taking Self -awareness and awareness of others’ needs Empathy, consideration, and inclusion Use of talking pieces for family meetings Use of restorative questions for empathy Conflict resolution and problem solving skills

Use of Volunteers Professionals Organise services Training Undertake some casework Trained volunteers Community mediators Restorative conference facilitators Children and young people as peer mediators

Contact details Marian Liebmann Nicholas McGeorge Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)