Restorative Justice in Restorative Justice in Scotland Scotland The potential for social change Richard Hendry National Coordinator: Work with Schools [email protected]
Restorative Justice in Restorative Justice in ScotlandScotland
The potential for social change
Richard HendryNational Coordinator: Work with Schools
About Sacro
Scotland’s leading community justice organisation.
Mission: To reduce conflict and offending and make communities safer.
9 distinct services across 28 Councils, including:• Youth and Adult Restorative Justice• Offender support services• Community Mediation • Intergenerational Projects• Restorative Practice in schools
What is Restorative Justice?
• ��A holistic approach to explain and address the multiple causes of offending behaviour.
• A focus on establishing the facts of the incident, acknowledging the harm done and holding individuals ‘accountable’ for their behaviour.
• The intended outcome is:– to repair harm
– To reintegrate those responsible
– healing for those harmed.
How do we think and respond?
RetributiveDO TO
Punish / Deter
Restorative DO WITH
Repair / Rebuild
PermissiveDO FOR
Act on behalf of
NeglectfulNOT DO
Inaction / Ignore
CONTROL
SUPPORT
McCold, P. and T. Watchel 2003
Two views of justice
Retributive Justice Restorative Justice
Crime is a violation of the law and the state
Crime is a violation of people and relationships
Violations create guilt Violations create obligations
Justice requires the state to determine blame (guilt) and impose pain
Justice involves victims, offenders, and community members in an effort to put things right
Central focus: offenders ‘getting what they deserve’
Central focus: Victim needs and offender responsibility for repairing harm
Retributive consequences to wrong-doing
Where ‘wrong-doing’ is defined as rule-breaking:
The consequences are the things that are done to me because I broke the rule, to punish or deter me…
if I’m caught!
Effect:
• If I’m caught I feel resentful.
• If I’m not caught, I feel relieved.
Restorative consequences of wrong-doing
Where ‘wrong-doing’ is defined as harm done to an individual:
The consequence of my harmful behaviour is the impact it has on others and on myself.
Effect:• If I understand the consequence for others I am more
likely to change my harmful behaviour.• I’m more likely to understand the consequence if I hear
from those affected by my harmful behaviour.
Different culture - different outcomes
Adults and children can learn to:
• Understand the impact of their behaviours on others
• Explain how they have been effected
• Resolve conflicts constructively
• Make amends for harm done
• Self-regulate.