Call for restorative justice review
Aug 08, 2011
from the article on UTV News:
Schemes carried out by Community Restorative Justice Ireland need to be reviewed according to an independent report.
A Criminal Justice Inspection report has revealed only one case has been referred by the community restorative justice system to police in Northern Ireland since 2007.
....The 19-page report, found despite four recommendations being fully achieved and one partially achieved, several issues remain to be addressed.
Practitioners have also criticised the scheme established to codify the relationship of practitioners with the police saying it is too restrictive because it requires an admission of guilt.
Despite this, CJI officials also found some positive developments and said early intervention in matters like anti-social behaviour, which may not constitute crimes, helped prevent problems from spiralling.
The report said mediators had operated informally, bringing offenders and victims together to repair their differences, often in areas formerly dominated by republican or loyalist paramilitaries.
"CRJI has become an important part of the voluntary and community sector landscape in parts of Northern Ireland and are integrating their activities as part of local community safety networks", Brendan McGuigan of the CJI added.
