restorative justice in scotland restorative justice in scotland the potential for social change...

Restorative Justice in Restorative Justice in ScotlandScotland

The potential for social change

Richard HendryNational Coordinator: Work with Schools

richard@hoolet.com

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.