Why Restorative Justice?

Our current criminal justice system focuses on punishing the offender. Reoffending rates are high. Many victims feel ignored.

Restorative justice puts victims at the heart of the justice process. It gives them a chance to ask the offender questions and explain the consequences of the offence. Government research shows 85% of victims find the process helps them move forward.

Restorative justice also helps to cut crime – research shows that it reduces reoffending by 14%.

So how does it work?

Restorative justice gives victims the chance to meet or communicate with their offender to explain the real impact of the crime – it empowers victims by giving them a voice. It also holds offenders to account for what they have done and helps them to take responsibility and make amends.

Restorative justice often involves a conference where a victim meets their offender face to face. Sometimes, when a face to face meeting is not the best way forward, the victim and offender will communicate via letters, recorded interviews or video instead.

About this Conference

It is aimed at explaining RJ to the public, showing how it works and what is the state of provision in Coventry and the West Midlands. It will discuss how we can make RJ more known and available to the public so that, if they are offered it in the future they will be more open to accepting the offer.

We invite members of the public, RJ practitioners and those involved in the criminal justice system to come along and find out more by talking to national experts in the field.

Download the flier here.

Organisers

Organised by Coventry Restorative Justice Forum, Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation and United Nations Association Coventry Branch.