Offenders to face victims

[andrewducker]

This is a fantastic idea (in certain circumstances). It should help both victims and perpetrators to move on.

People who commit crimes could avoid prosecution if they agree to face-to-face meetings with their victims and see the impact of their offences, it has been suggested.

Both victims and offenders would have to consent to taking part in the scheme with the perpetrator admitting to the offence.

Restorative justice has so far been confined largely to young offenders but will be stepped up to include more adult offenders, school bullies and anti-social hooligans.

Mr Blunkett said: "Restorative justice means victims can get an apology from their offender, but it is about more than 'saying sorry' - it provides the victim with an explanation of why the crime was committed.

"This is something a prison sentence on its own can never do and can enable victims to move on and carry on with their lives.

"It also means that for the first time offenders will be personally held to account for the crimes they have committed."

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

The question is works to what end? The question of what the justice system is attempting to achieve should come first and if handled in a reasonable fashion a variety of options would then be tested and the most effective used. The current system claims to be about reform, but (in the US at east, I know nothing of such things in other nations) it is solely about punishment and vengeance. I think the US system actually manages this fairly well. However, it is exceptionally poor at preventing people from committing additional crimes.