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Wright, Martin. Mobilizing the community for crime prevention.Paper to international conference on ‘The role of community restorative justice centres in the juvenile justice system’, Ukrainian Centre for Common Ground, Kyiv, 19-20 April 2007.

This paper will discuss some of these questions, and suggest the role of restorative justice in answering them. First it will consider restorative approaches in schools and in the community, and their contribution to the reduction of harm. Then it will consider how restorative justice can be used at various stages of the process when harm, or crime, has taken place, and the community’s role in this. Finally it will return to the question of prevention. (excerpt)

Wright, Martin. 2005. Can restorative justice reduce the burden on the criminal justice system?Paper presented to conference on ‘Forming a Ukrainian restorative justice model’, organized by Ukrainian Center for Common Ground, Kyiv, 10-11 February 2005.

This paper will consider what are the difficulties faced by the CJS, and why are the difficulties not being resolved? It will then suggest what can be done about them. Firstly, there are conventional responses, and then a different response based on restorative principles will be proposed. Finally the possible effects of such an approach will be explored, including the important role of those who administer the justice system and will be responsible for making sure that the restorative process lives up to the restorative ideal. (excerpt)

Geselev, Oleksii. “Philosophical Legal Aspects of Changing the Dominant Understanding of the Law as a Requirement for Implementing Restorative Justice in Ukraine”

This article discusses the regulatory framework for introducing restorative justice process, especially mediation, into the Ukrainian justice system.

Restorative Justice and Reconviction

The Ministry of Justice (formerly the Home Office) in London released the last in a series of reports on the effectiveness of restorative justice. This report discusses the reconviction rates and cost effectiveness of three restorative justice schemes funded under the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme from mid-2001 through 2004.

Ireland Exploring Further Restorative Justice Implementation

The National Commission on Restorative Justice (Commission) in Ireland has released an interim report on its work to develop a policy framework for expanding the use of restorative justice throughout the country. The report suggests possible pilot projects and describes issues still to be studied.

Legislating the Use of Victim Offender Mediation in Portugal

In July 2007, Portugal enacted "Law no. 21/2007 of June 12" regulating the use of victim offender mediation. The legislation outlines cases in which mediation can be used, the process for referral, limits on mediation agreements, and the criteria for mediators. This article provides a summary of a larger article written by Paulo de Brito, Justice Auditor from the Centre d’Études Judiciares in Lisbon, describing the development of victim offender mediation in Portugal within the larger European framework.

New Guidelines for Implementing Mediation in Europe

In November 2007, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) issued Guidelines for a Better Implementation of the Existing Recommendation Concerning Mediation in Penal Matters. The document urges member states of the Council of Europe to further develop the understanding and use of penal mediation and restorative justice in all aspects of the criminal justice system.

Introducing Restorative Practices into Scottish Schools

In 2004, the Scottish Executive allocated funding for a 30-month pilot project to introduce restorative practices into schools in three Local Authorities. An August 2007 evaluation report outlines the implementation process for the different areas and the progress made in establishing restorative practices in the school.

Nikolic-Ristanovic, Vesna and Sanja Copic. The position of victims in Serbia: criminal procedure and possibilities of restorative justice.

In the paper, the authors deal with the victim’s position in the criminal procedure, on the one hand side, and the possibilities of implementing restorative justice and its importance for the improvement of victim’s position in Serbia, on the other one. In the first part of the paper, the authors point out victim’s position within the criminal procedure and the noticed gaps, which are particularly reflected in insufficient paying attention to the victim and neglecting of his/her rights and needs. This is opposite to the strengthening of the rights of the accused party that characterizes societies, which are, as our society, on the way of democratization and improvement of human rights. In the second part of the paper, the authors analyze some solutions that introduce elements of restorative justice into our system of criminal response to crime, but from the victim’s point of view. Finally, the authors also point out some further steps that should be undertaken in order to improve the victim’s position, particularly emphasizing the place and role of victim support service, witness service and special facilities in the courts for victims/witnesses, possibilities of using victim-offender mediation before reporting the crime, or staring the prosecution, or as a part of the treatment in the prison etc.

RJ in Moldova: The Institute for Penal Reform

In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has begun using restorative justice processes. This required new legislation and development of pilot projects using victim offender mediation in both juvenile and adult cases. A major supporter and advocate for these changes has been the Institute for Penal reform founded in November 2001.

Attitudes of Victims and Offenders toward Restorative Justice

A June 2007 report from the Ministry of Justice in the UK reports the attitudes of victims and offenders participating in three different restorative justice schemes from 2001-2004. The evaluation shows that the majority of victims and offenders found the restorative justice process satisfactory, with communication being listed as one of the most important elements of the process.

Chankova, Dobrinka and Emilia Staninska. Bulgaria on the Road to Victim-Offender Mediation

Although in the last decade mediation in all fields (civil, labour, penal matters etc.) has had numerous proponents in academic circles and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and has won recognition in wider society, it only recently began to attract the attention and support of policy makers and members of Parliament, and not without a push from outside. (excerpt) PowerPoint Presentation.

Chankova, Dobrinka.Positioning Mediation in Bulgarian Justice System: the New Mediation Act Significance

The year 2004 ended happily for mediation supporters in Bulgaria, when on December 2nd, the Bulgarian Parliament finally adopted the long-awaited Mediation Act. The Act was promulgated in State Gazette N 110 on December 17th, 2004 and enforced on December 20th, 2004. Given that the path towards the adoption of this law was wrought with difficulties, its’ final passage represents a huge success.

Community Justice Centers in Armenia

In 2006, two Community Justice Centers opened in Armenia to provide restorative justice services to first-time young offenders. They were developed by an NGO, Project Harmony, and Armenian law enforcement professionals and educators. In this article, Renee Berrian, programme manager with Project Harmony, provides an overview of the development of the Community Justice Centers in Armenia.

Chankova, Dobrinka. Applicability of Mediation in Bulgaria: The View of Law Enforcement Professionals

This survey, launched in March and April 2000 in Sofia and Blagoevgrad Court District, clearly demonstrates that the ideology of mediation as an alternative to the criminal proceedings is well understood and Bulgarian law enforcement authorities are prepared to apply it in their everyday practice. This work was supported by the Research Support Scheme of the Open Society Support Foundation, grant 1538/1999.

Crime Prevention Council in Denmark. An experiment with victim offender mediation in Denmark: Victim and offender may meet for mediation

Written in 1999, this paper describes an experiment in victim offender mediation in certain police districts in Denmark. It is part of the government’s plan to strengthen the position of victims of crime. The paper outlines the nature and purpose of victim offender mediation, the mediation process, types of cases referred to mediation, expectations and outcomes for participants, origin of referrals, mediators, and the scope and time frame of the experiment.

White Ring Public Benefit Association Budapest. Opinions and Recommendations Concerning the Legal Position and Compensation of the Victims of Crimes.

The White Ring Public Benefit Association in Budapest, Hungary, concerned with victim assistance, support, and compensation, offers specific recommendations to improve the legal position of crime victims. The association focuses on the legal position of victims involving suggestions to be incorporated in Hungary's Criminal Code and Procedural Statute. Criminal law modifications to protect victim interests are identified, as well as procedural law proposals. The need for adequate consideration of victim rights in court proceedings is emphasized, and ideas and recommendations on judicial reform are offered. The Association proposes that mediation be considered to reach agreement between victim and offender, and that both criminal code and restorative justice concepts be used to protect and compensate crime victims.

Wandrey, M. "Organizational Demands on Mediation Programs: Problems of Realization."

This paper analyzes the realization of mediation programs in Germany focusing on three problem areas in the field of mediation practice that hinder a successful introduction of victim-offender mediation (VOM) in Germany. The relevant details given here are based on the authorís experiences as advisor in the programís planning and organization, as well as his participation in its practical implementation and in continuing education efforts in the field of victim-offender mediation.

Walter, M and Wagner, A. "How Police Officers Manage Difficult Situations: The Predominance of Soothing and Smoothing Strategies."

A study of the management of 128 conflict situations by uniformed police in Bonn, Germany. Data were obtained by means of participant observation and were categorized according to areas of conflict and conflict management strategies. Conflict situations were dealt with passively (cooling-off of the conflict, downgrading the conflict potential, and delegating the final resolution to other institutions) in more cases than active intervention by the police even in situations such as domestic conflicts and conflicts involving physical attacks in which the parties expected active participation of the police. Further research should investigate the factors that influence strategies used by the police

Trenczek, T. "A Review and Assessment of Victim-Offender Reconciliation Programming in West Germany."

Data are presented on pilot victim-offender reconciliation projects (VORP) established in the West German cities of Braunschweig, Cologne and Reutlingen. Victim-offender reconciliation with an emphasis on restoration and peace-making is having some difficulty fitting into a punishment-oriented criminal justice system, although a theoretical basis for an emphasis on reconciliation can be found in West German law.