1. Restorative Justice & The Probation Service
An Overview of Restorative Justice within Probation Service Practice
&
Presentations from Probation funded community based Restorative Justice Projects

2. Probation Service and Restorative Justice - An overview
Probation Service Mission, Values and Ethos
Probation Service Strategic Goals
Restorative Justice in the Probation Service
Probation Service and Victims

3. Strategic Goals: To reduce re-offending to create safer communities
Reduce re-offending and victimisation through promoting and managing community sanctions
Build and develop strategic alliances and partnerships
Enhance our organisational capability, excellence and innovation

4. Restorative Justice within Probation Practice
Dedicated Restorative Justice projects (Reparation Panels / Victim Offender Mediation)
Family Conferencing - Children Act 2001 (Conferencing)
Community Service / Community Return ( Reparation)
Midlands Traveller Conflict and Mediation Initiative (Victim / Offender Mediation)
Development of Restorative Thinking and Restorative Dialogue in the Assessment and Supervision of Offenders

5. Probation Service and Victims
Victim Charter
Victim Services Co-ordinator – ‘Single Point of Contact' Information, Support & Referral
Victim Impact Assessments
Victim Sensitive Approach to Working with Offenders

6. RJS and NCRP established 2000
Brief Overview 2000 – Restorative Justice Services & Nenagh Community Reparation Services
RJS and NCRP established 2000
Providing Reparation Model to local courts
Low tariff offences
First time / low level Offenders
Completion DPOA / Strike out
RJS – also provides Victim / Offender Mediation

7. Core elements of the Restorative Model
Court referred - Pre- sentence
Reparation panels (Stakeholders)
Contract of reparative actions
Supervision of contract
Return to court for sanction

8. National Commission on Restorative Justice - Report 2009
Recommendations …
Particular focus on 3 models
Offender Reparation
Victim Offender Mediation
YPP Conferencing
Acknowledging potential benefits for victims
Improve cost effectiveness of the models
Existing services to expand
Accommodate higher tariff cases / offenders
Increase number of case referrals

9. Advancing National Commission Report Recommendations / Targets
Structural and organisational change
Reallocation of resources
Reviewing the service delivery model
Facilitating the participation of victims
Expand the geographical area of service delivery and provide service to more Courts
Promote the Higher Tariff model and engage the key stakeholders in the new locations and courts
Identify opportunities for further involvement and input from community sector

10. Results and Outcomes Positive buy in from the stakeholders
Significant increase in number of referring courts and referrals
Models now processing Higher Tariff offences
Changing profile of the referred offender
Increased focus on victim interests
Court sanction – changing context

11. Challenges and Opportunities
Managing future growth within the context of current resources whilst maintaining a high standard of service delivery and ensuring best practice
Ensuring the RJ models are delivering for all
- Participants
- Stakeholders
Continuing to be proactive in identifying and providing appropriate roles for the Community Sector
Consolidating and strengthening relationships with the stakeholders and learning from each others experiences

12. Aims of the Limerick RJ Project (in conjunction with YPP)
Promote Community Safety
Reduce the incidence of youth crime and anti social behaviour
Reduce the Fear of Crime
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Project

13. What the Restorative Justice Project is
A Limerick Based project – which aims to establish a model/framework for professional practice in Restorative Justice with Young offenders.
Working with young people aged 12-18years.
It is a multi agency response to youth offending.
It promotes a new way of thinking in terms of RJ practices across the community, voluntary and statutory sector.
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Project

14. Le Chéile Restorative Justice Options: Restorative Conference
Restorative Justice Initiative
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Options:
Restorative Conference
Victim Offender Mediation
Victim Impact Panel
Victim Empathy Programme
Reparation

15. Case Study Violent Assault Two Victims Gang of Youths Alcohol
Peer Pressure
Night Time
These were the ingredients when mixed together, caused one of our young people to end up in the Criminal Justice System. As a result he was put on probation & referred to the RJ Project, three years after the incident. Everyone here has probably seen a case like this on TV or in the media.
Take a moment to think about this young person. Is the young person male/female, your neighbour, at school with one of your children, someone that you want associating with your family or loved ones. Silence…… This young person has taken full responsibility for his actions and has being working with me for the last few weeks. Restorative Justice has provided him with the tools and guidance to enable him to express in a healthy way, his remorse for his actions. I am now going to read you a letter that this young person has wrote. After reading the letter, ask group to think back to their original thoughts and does this sound like the same person that you imagined? 15

16. Quotes
Young Person: “I was stuck for words I didn’t know how to say I was sorry”.
Victim: “Very positive, rewarding & a very worthwhile process”.
Family Member: “Why wasn’t this done years ago. I have seen huge changes in my son since he started working here. I trust him more”.
From my experience in this it is a win-win process. Everyone gets something out of it. These are quotes from young people, victims & family members who have all being through the Restorative Justice Process. Others include;
‘Who would have thought that something so negative & painful could be used, years later, for good’.
‘It was cathartic for me, I was able to put the past behind me while moving on whilst telling my story’
‘’I felt compassion for the young person’. ‘It humanised the people who committed the crime’. 16

17. Limerick RJ - Progress to Date
RJ Advisory Group
CSC- RP Subgroup
IIRP Training
Training Modules for RJ & VIP designed
RJ Volunteers Trained and in supervision
Pool of Victims trained for Victim Impact Panel
Victim Empathy Programmes designed
Prescriptive procedures for all RJ models
Host Agency for Reparation identified and staff trained.
Interagency collaboration with statutory, community and voluntary sector
Procedures outlined for engaging victims of crime with An Garda Siochana and Support After Crime

18. Next Steps
Extend and strengthen our dedicated restorative justice projects
Increase awareness and promote the use of restorative justice as a viable sanction
Increased role for Community Members/ Volunteers
Develop more inclusive and sensitive victim services
Implement good practice and consistent standards

19. To Conclude …
Offenders are at the centre of what we do
Victims are at the centre of our concern
Community is at the centre of our practice
Restorative Justice has the potential to be at the centre of the solution