Restorative Justice

No. It is important to understand that Restorative Justice is a process and may not end up as a face-to-face meeting. For example, a letter of apology may be received, or a video message can be used to express a person’s view - that could be the offender’s view, the victim’s view, or both.

The method of 'conversation' will be tailored to the individual case and all parties' needs and wishes. ​Participation is always voluntary, and requires both the victim and offender to agree.

A victim can have someone with them to support them during the process. Or, if it is preferred, someone else can represent the victim.

A Community Resolution is a way of resolving offences such as low-level public order, criminal damage, theft, and minor assaults. Typically, a Community Resolution might take the form of an apology and enables relatively minor offences to be resolved much faster than requiring a suspect to attend court.

A Community Resolution is one of more than 20 ways ('outcomes') a police investigation is resolved. All outcomes are equally valid. Some of the other well-known outcomes include:

• A suspect has been charged
• A suspect has been cautioned
• A suspect has received a Penalty Notice for Disorder
• The suspect has died
• Prosecution is not in the public interest
• No suspect has been identified.

Restorative Justice is not the same as a Community Resolution.

Restorative Justice is not an outcome and it does not replace the police investigation and the criminal justice process. Restorative Justice is facilitated in addition to whatever outcome the police investigation will reach.