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Home Office

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to introduce measures to increase levels of victim participation in restorative justice. [212321] Paul Goggins: The Government aim to promote the further use of restorative justice (RJ) in the adult criminal justice system, particularly as a service to victims. We know from research evidence that over 75 per cent. of victims who choose to participate are glad to have done so. On 16 March, we will issue RJ implementation guidance for Local Criminal Justice Boards and their constituent agencies, encouraging them to develop provision of restorative justice at local level, particularly as a service to victims. The implementation guidance will also include advice to local agencies about publicity and communications about RJ, so that more victims are aware of what it is and what is available to them locally. We believe that the best way to encourage victim participation is through high quality, victim-sensitive provision of RJ services, and appropriate locally based communication about what is available for them. In the youth justice system, RJ has been available Since l998. Youth offending teams reported that during 2003-04 over 16,000 victims were consulted or participated in restorative processes and over 90 per cent. expressed satisfaction. The Youth Justice Board has a target for youth offending teams that by 2005, 75 per cent. of victims of all youth crime will be offered the opportunity to participate in a restorative process and 75 per cent. of victims participating should be satisfied. The provisional figure for victim participation between April and December last year is 80.1 per cent.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c59-60W; 212321

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Crime Victims Reparation by offenders

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk