Language barriers in Restorative Justice meetings
Where necessary, we use an external translator service to help victims and offenders communicate....
There are so many brilliant benefits of Restorative Justice for victims of crime.
Many victims of crime experience trauma after the crime takes place. They can feel powerless and afraid. Restorative Justice can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
It allows them to see the offender as another person instead of a monster - often the idea of coming face-to-face with someone who has harmed them is worse than actually seeing them in the flesh and this can remove those fears.
Restorative Justice gives victims of crime their power back. Being able to have their say in a safe and mediated environment can help victims of crime regain a sense of control in a situation where they have been powerless. The victim can have control over the RJ environment, including where they sit, where the offender sits, and who enters the room first.
Restorative Justice also lets victims of crime move on with their lives in a healthy and productive way. Having a secure space to communicate with the offender to express how the crime has impacted their lives and the people around them gives victims their voice back.
Restorative Justice gives victims the opportunity to ask any questions they might have and can give them reassurance that the offender doesn't want to harm the again. For example, a victim might wonder if they were specifically targeted or why the offender chose them in particular, e.g. ‘why did you attack me?’. In this way, taking part in Restorative Justice can give victims a sense of closure that they wouldn’t be able to achieve through other methods.
Click here to learn more about Restorative Justice.
