Language barriers in Restorative Justice meetings
Where necessary, we use an external translator service to help victims and offenders communicate....
Fraud: A Restorative Justice Case Study
The offender defrauded a woman he was in an intimate relationship with, stealing over £50,000 over a course of months. The offender manipulated the victim into giving him the money, leading to her becoming withdrawn and incredibly stressed.
The case was referred to Restorative Solutions by an officer. Following discussions with a practitioner, the victim felt the Restorative Justice process may help her get answers to questions she had and help rebuild her self-esteem in the process. The offender was contacted in prison and agreed to the process, but did not wish to meet in person as he was too ashamed of his actions. A Lead Practitioner and a Restorative Justice volunteer, a former district Judge, worked with the victim, helping draft letters to banks and loan companies outlining how she was a victim of fraud, which led to her being reimbursed.
The victim wrote a letter to the offender detailing all the things he had said to her and asked him to be honest in what was a lie and what was truthful. She explained the impact of this crime and how it had almost destroyed her life.
The offender was genuinely remorseful over his actions and apologised to the victim, explaining his gambling addiction, how it came about and the steps he had since taken to address the issues and take full responsibility for his behaviour. He provided assurances that this was something he would not repeat.
The victim was elated to have the opportunity to challenge the offender’s behaviour. She credits Restorative Justice with helping to rebuild her confidence and improve her general wellbeing. She could not praise Restorative Justice enough for what it had done for her.
The offender appreciated the non-judgemental way in which he was dealt with by Restorative Justice Practitioners and was grateful for the opportunity to apologise to the victim and provide her with answers, knowing it was going some way in repairing the harm that he had caused.
The opportunity to talk to someone often helps victims’ mental health and wellbeing following a crime. Our experienced volunteers are integral to a successful conference and we are thrilled to see a positive outcome to this case.
