The document presents the January 2010 edition of Resolution from the Restorative Justice Consortium, highlighting significant updates and initiatives in restorative justice in Northern Ireland, England, and Wales. It reports on new legislative recommendations and the impact of various restorative justice practices, showcasing successful programs that reduce re-offending and support victims. Key findings include greater victim satisfaction and cost savings associated with restorative justice processes, alongside ongoing efforts to secure a statutory footing for these practices in the justice system.

1. Winter 2010
Resolution 34
News from the Restorative Justice Consortium
Making Amends in Northern Ireland
Justice
Reinvestment
Restorative Justice
in Bolivia
Company number:4199237
Charity number:1097969

2. Directors’ Introduction 02 | 03
Contents W
elcome to the January edition of
Resolution, and Happy New Year
restorative justice a firmer foothold in the
Irish Criminal Justice System. Thirdly, hot
to all our members and supporters. on the heels of the Irish report, our own
2010 is going to be a really exciting year, House of Commons Justice Committee’s
both for the RJC and for Restorative report, published this month - in January,
02 Introduction Justice. Here at RJC, after a very difficult critiques the lack of progress our
year, we have secured funding for two years, Government has made in introducing
03 News in brief enabling us to appoint a new Director. I’m Restorative Justice in England and Wales,
delighted to have been offered the role, job- and calls for substantial progress to be
sharing with Deborah Ginns - more about us made on this before the end of the
04 Justice Reinvestment on page 6.Thank you to all our funders for Parliament (see page 4).
their investment, which will enable us to
05 Making Amends in Northern take the RJC forward and, through our All three reports are particularly timely for
Ireland work, make a real difference for victims, the RJC’s 4th February Conference on
offenders and communities. Restorative Justice and the Law. At this
high profile event , with a wide range of
06 Meet Our New Directors Our October AGM saw the launch of the national and international speakers, we’ll be
final report of our Wates-funded exploring what kind of legislation we need
07 Restorative Justice in Bolivia Accreditation Project (see the full report on here to give Restorative Justice a firm
our website), and the creation of the RJC footing in our adult justice system, to give
Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB). all victims of adult offenders access to RJ.
08 Events & Vacancies The SAB will lead and oversee all the RJC’s Learning from the experience of other
work on standards and accreditation, and countries, and looking at some of the
will enable us to really push forward the detailed questions facing sentencers, the
development of standards and accreditation conference will put the question of a
Editor’s note for the whole field. We've had a great Restorative Justice Act on the agenda
response from members across the field ahead of a general election. If you haven’t
Resolution is here to reflect Restorative offering to serve on the SAB and on its already booked your place, do book right
Justice and Restorative Approaches in advisory panel - thank you to everyone now via the RJC website. We look forward
all their forms and developments.To this taking this work forward on an entirely to seeing you there, at what promises to be a
end we welcome your input and ideas. voluntary basis. Timed to link in with the critical event for Restorative Justice.
Please get in touch if you would like to RJC's Annual Practitioner Network Day on
submit an article, have suggestions for a 20th April, the next issue of Resolution will Lizzie Nelson - Acting Director
feature, ideas for what you would like focus on practice issues, and include an From 1st February Lizzie and Deborah will
covered, news of an event or would
update from Les Davey, Chair of the SAB, be Co-Directors of RJC. Contact them at
simply like to share an experience with
on their vision and work this year. at director@restorativejustice.org.uk
other readers.
The last few months have also seen the
Chris Igoe, Editor
publication of three hugely important
reports. In November 2009, the Prison
About Us
E:chris@restorativejustice.org.uk Restorative Justice empowers the people
Reform Trust published their report Making
Amends. Key findings include that Youth most affected by crime and conflict to deal
Resolution is the quarterly Conferencing in Northern Ireland has with its effects.
newsletter of the: contributed to a three-fold reduction in the
Restorative Justice Consortium use of custody for children. Over 70% of Restorative Justice can give victims the
Beacon House, 113 Kingsway victims have participated in face to face chance to tell offenders the real impact of
London,WC2B 6PP conferences, and nine out ten victims say their crime, to get answers, receive an
they would recommend participation to apology and move on with their lives. It
T: 020 7831 5700 another victim (see Juliet Lyon's article on holds offenders to account whilst giving
E: info@restorativejustice.org.uk page 4). These significant findings from them the chance to understand the real
W: www.restorativejustice.org.uk Northern Ireland demonstrate how impact of what they’ve done and to do
Company number: 4199237 restorative processes enable young people something to repair the harm.
Charity number: 1097969 to re-engage with their families,
communities and the victims of their Restorative principles are also being used
©2010 RJC crimes, understanding the impact of their successfully outside the Criminal Justice
Not to be reproduced without actions, and providing them with the insight, System, for example, in schools,
permission the motivation and the support to change, as workplaces, care homes, health services
few other interventions can. and communities, often without the labels
The articles in this newsletter of victim and offender being necessary.
express the personal views of the Second was the publication in December of
authors and do not necessarily the report of the Irish Government’s The Restorative Justice Consortium is the
reflect the views of the RJC Commission on Restorative Justice. national voice for Restorative Justice. We
Following two years of careful provide information about Restorative
The image on the front cover is investigation, the Commission found that Justice to the public; support and resource
©istockphoto.com/Duncan1890. 8.3 million euros per year could be saved – our members who deliver Restorative
Both people represented are models. both through reductions in the use of Justice and promote the development and
custody following pre-sentence RJ, and use of Restorative Justice.
through drops in re-offending - and
recommended new legislation to give

3. News In Brief
Youth Rehabilitation Order Nacro Restorative Justice Newham RJ Network reaches
presents new opportunities for Centre wins Justice Award final of the Philip Lawrence
Restorative Justice Nacro’s Restorative Justice Centre in Awards
Preston has won a national award for Newham Restorative Justice Network
The Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)
tackling youth crime at the Justice (NRJN) reached the final of the 2009
introduced in November, is the biggest
Awards ran by the Ministry of Justice. Philip Lawrence Awards. NRJN work to
change in Youth Justice sentencing for
The project uses peer panels and address the levels of and issues
years. The YRO replaces the 9 existing
Restorative Justice conferencing to surrounding guns, gangs, knives and
sentences on offer to courts with one
bring together those who have caused street crime (and related crimes) among
generic community sentence. Whilst
harm and those who have been affected young people in the borough. It works
restorative justice is not mentioned
by it. Chief Constable Steve Finnigan, with offenders, as well as with victims to
explicitly in the selection of 18
Chair of the Lancashire Criminal Justice reduce offending and re-offending.
requirements it can form a part of many
Board said: “We are incredibly proud of Readers of Resolution will be hearing
and will present new opportunities for
the Nacro Centre team.Their efforts are more about NRJN in forthcoming
Youth Offending Services who want to
truly inspiring and a shining example of issues.
introduce restorative justice processes.
the dedication that exists amongst the
That was the message from Bill
Kerslake, Head of Effective Sentencing
staff and volunteers that work in the Why Me? Conference
Criminal Justice System in Lancashire.
at the Youth Justice Board, speaking at Delegates at Decembers Why Me?
Congratulations!”
Remedi’s conference in Sheffield this Conference heard from director Will
month. Sara Payne ‘forms no conclusion’ Riley how Why Me? intend to portray
on RJ both the emotional and rational
Further opportunities for restorative message for Restorative Justice. The
The Restorative Justice Consortium conference heard some moving
processes will follow the introduction of
supports Sara Payne’s call to ensure presentations which include Margaret
the Youth Conditional Caution planned
victims’ needs are met and highlights Foxley’s account of meeting the man
early in 2010.
Restorative Justice as an effective and who, by taking a laptop, stole a precious
underused approach to meet those link between Margaret and her daughter
Restorative Justice approaches
needs. In her report Redefining Justice who tragically died in a car crash. This
in the secure estate Sara Payne recommended a number of message was reinforced by Professor
Youth Justice Board pilots of measures to make the justice system Lawrence Sherman who laid out the
restorative approaches in YOI Brinsford clearer and more supportive of victims. evidence for RJ as a method of reducing
and New Hall have been completed and However despite speaking to several reoffending and meeting victims needs.
evaluations are pending publication. The focus groups and people who had
pilots focused on implementation issues experienced restorative justice the Restorative approaches reduce
rather than the effectiveness of Victims’ Champion did not feel she had conflict, bullying and exclusions
restorative approaches and are being learnt enough to form any conclusions. in Barnet
used by NOMS to inform new behaviour
An evaluation of restorative approaches
management systems and by the YJB to HM Prison Gloucester RJ Project in Barnet found that schools that had
make decisions on how best to support An exciting new project offering victims received training in restorative
Restorative Justice in the secure estate. and offenders the opportunity to approaches had reduced their numbers
The evaluation will not be made publicly participate in a Restorative Justice of fixed-term exclusions by half. In
available until it has received ministerial Conference within HM Prison Gloucester contrast schools who had not received
sign-off anticipated in the next financial is beginning to receive its first cases. restorative training had exclusions
year. Participation will be voluntary for all increase by over two-thirds.The training,
participants and aims to recruit delivered by Transforming Conflict, also
The pilots have however fed into recent volunteers from the community to reduced bullying within the school whilst
YJB guidance on the use of restraint in facilitate the conferences. The project increasing calmness and safety. The
the secure establishment. Devloping a plan includes training of staff to include evaluation revealed increased
Restraint Minimisation Strategy urges restorative approaches in their confidence among the staff. The pupils
senior managers to consider how mainstream work.The three year project themselves were more likely to take
restorative justice approaches can be will include annual assessments responsibility for their actions and
applied within their establishment’s analysing the work’s effect on behaviour and deal with problems
approach behaviour management. reoffending and victim satisfaction. themselves.

4. Justice Reinvestment
Two very significant reports on schemes are dependent on the goodwill of given to victims to participate.” [page 16]
Restorative Justice have been court authorities and, when personnel
published in the last few weeks. The change or interest wanes, an effective The Commission recommends that
Irish Government published the final scheme can wither... A legislative base Restorative Justice be given a new
report of their National Commission provides safeguards, including adherence to statutory footing, making it mandatory for
on Restorative Justice - established by specified core values. It can address issues, sentencers to consider Restorative Justice
the Irish Government in March 2007– such as balance of participation, pre-sentence (although also allowing it to
“To consider the application of the impartiality of facilitators and consensus be used post-sentence). They recommend
concept of Restorative Justice [and] to decision-making. The grounding of that Restorative Justice provision be
make recommendations as to its Restorative Justice in legislation confers targeted at offences for which up to three
potential wider application in this legitimacy on such processes, providing for years imprisonment are being considered.
jurisdiction.” a continuity and consistency not available They also recommend that the Probation
from ad hoc arrangements. It helps Service be given the lead responsibility for
As part of their remit the Commission was eliminate and modify legal barriers limiting delivering Restorative Justice, working in
tasked with reviewing restorative justice its use. The Commission strongly partnership with voluntary sector
provision by the Probation Service and recommends that the wider application of providers.
voluntary sector providers in the Irish programmes of restorative justice be given
Republic, and with reviewing developments a statutory base.” [page 14] Hot on the heels of this report, on January
in Restorative Justice in other jurisdictions. 14th, the Justice Committee of the House
They were asked to review the international of Commons published their report on
research evidence for Restorative Justice, Justice Re-investment. In the context of
including in relation to cost, and to make their wider argument for Government to
recommendations as to whether invest in initiatives which prevent crime, the
Restorative Justice should be further report cites Jonathan Aitken as one among
developed in Ireland; which models would many who gave evidence supporting further
be most appropriate and cost effective; investment in Restorative Justice. The
whether these models required a new report states: “We are surprised by the
statutory basis (new legislation); the roles cautious approach that the Government
of Courts, Probation Service and other key has taken towards Restorative Justice but
bodies; and which offences restorative we welcome its current commitment to
justice should be applicable. revive the strategic direction in this area.
©istockphoto.com/Duncan1890 We urge the Justice Secretary to take
Following nearly two years of detailed immediate action to promote the use of
work, the Commission published their final Restorative Justice and to ensure that he
report and recommendations in December In their consideration of the evidence for puts in place a fully funded strategy which
2009. The report merits reading, not only the cost-effectiveness of Restorative facilitates national access to restorative
for the final recommendations and Justice, the Commission look at the justice for victims before the end of this
conclusions of the Commission (see below), potential cost savings from drops in re- Parliament.”
but for the concise and up to date overview offending rates, noting the findings of the
it provides of restorative justice in common Ministry of Justice research in England and The Restorative Justice Consortium
law jurisdictions (such as our own) in Wales on this issue. They also point to the welcomes both these reports, each the
Chapter 4, and in civil law jurisdictions potential savings in the cost of custody, result of careful analysis of the evidence by
(many other European countries) in given the potential for pre-sentence experts in their field. We believe the Irish
Chapter 5, their detailed analysis of the Restorative Justice to shorten the custodial Commission’s conclusions and
existing research evidence of the cost- sentence handed down by the courts. In recommendations can be applied almost
benefits of restorative justice in Chapter 9, looking at this issue the Commission unaltered to what is needed in England and
and the case for legislation to provide conclude: Wales for Restorative Justice to develop in
restorative justice with a statutory basis, in this jurisdiction. We look forward to the
Chapter 8. “The Commission is satisfied that there is response of the Government in this country
strong evidence from international studies both to the Justice Committee’s comments,
This last chapter – their consideration of that Restorative Justice is effective at and to the conclusions of the Irish National
whether or not the development of meeting the needs of victims, at bringing Commission.
restorative justice in Ireland requires a new offenders to accept responsibility for the
statutory basis – is particularly timely in harm done to victims and at helping them to Both the Report from the Irish National
the light of the RJC’s conference on that change behaviour and avoid re-offending in Commission on Restorative Justice
exact question – for England and Wales - on the future. Despite the difficulty in (December 2009) and the Justice
4th February. The Irish Commission report comparing international data, there are Committee’s report on Justice Re-
comments: clear indications that Restorative Justice investment (January 2010) can be found
measures are among the less-expensive on the RJC website
“A problem associated with non-legislative options open to the criminal justice www.restorativejustice.org.uk
restorative justice programmes has been system… [and they go on to comment that]
the difficulty in obtaining referrals from the The Commission fully supports the view Picture inset is for illustrative purposes
courts on a consistent basis. Voluntary that the greatest encouragement should be only, the people depicted are models.

5. 04 | 05
Putting victims at the heart of justice:
making amends in Northern Ireland
Promises to put victims me." Another made it clear what There is now a compelling movement,
at the heart of the vandalising his car had meant to him: "I backed by evidence and experience, for
justice system sound was working in a club to get extra restorative justice to be much more
good but can have a money. It was my first car.Took me three widely available for victims of crime.
hollow ring. Too often years to save up for it." Even those who have been affected by
people find themselves the most serious crimes can benefit.
lost in a maze of All those involved say that meetings are
unfamiliar, complex and bureaucratic usually charged with emotion, with At the moment, restorative justice for
criminal justice process and offenders likely to express shame and under-18-year-olds in England and
procedures, only to emerge feeling that regret. Families are often involved, and Wales is effectively limited to first time
their account of being harmed has not young offenders are ashamed to have let and minor offenders, and to small, local
them down and broken their trust as initiatives. Having just published its
really been heard or, at least, not
well as deeply regretting the harm they applied research report, Making
properly understood. So a youth justice
have caused to their victims. Following a Amends: restorative youth justice in
system which satisfies 90% of crime
conference one young man said he felt: Northern Ireland, the Prison Reform
victims and substantially reduces Trust is now calling on the government
"Sad really. Like I'm upset with what
reoffending rates is well worth looking to draw on positive outcomes and to
I've done and wish you could take it
into. establish an integrated restorative
back.Wish I could change time."
I n Northern Ireland an established
A structured youth conference usually
justice system.
system of restorative justice is getting
involves family and community
young offenders to face their victims, Northern Ireland Youth
members, and a police officer. Offenders
recognise the harm they have done and
ensuring that they work hard to make
and victims are helped by highly trained Conferencing Service
and skilled organisers to discuss the
amends. Emerging results show that this
offence, its impact and to agree on an
"youth conferencing" is cutting crime, • 1,700 conferences per year
action plan for the offender.
saving costs and, not surprisingly,
leading to greater confidence in the
Components of a youth conference • 69% victim attendance
criminal justice system.
action plan can include an apology,
• 75% victim involvement
reparation, a specified activity to
Since being formally established in • 93% victim satisfaction
address offending, unpaid work for up to
2003, the Northern Ireland Youth
240 hours, a restriction on certain
Conference Service has convened more
than 6,500 such conferences. Official
activities, payment of compensation, • 39.5% reconviction rate
supervision or treatment of an addiction (70.7% for custody)
figures indicate that just over a third of
or mental health problem.
10- to 17-year-olds participating in this • 28.3% for cases of
restorative justice process reoffend ...medium to low seriousness
Following burglary and criminal
within a year. Although still a high
damage at a church, a 16-year-old
number, this compares very favourably
worked to put things right by cleaning,
to the almost three-quarters of young
polishing and painting, supervised by the It is all too easy to give up on children in
people reconvicted following a spell in
caretaker, as well as apologising to the trouble or to believe that nothing works
prison. Where restorative justice can be clergyman. The young man also donated
used instead of prosecution, outcomes with young offenders. Most people
a sum of money to a charitable would surely rather young people had to
are particularly good. Encouragingly, organisation helping to reconstruct
the number of young people sentenced to face the consequences of their actions
people's lives and homes after the Asian and make amends rather than getting
custody in Northern Ireland is falling tsunami. He kept his word as given at the
year on year. It is thought in part in into more and more trouble and ending
conference, completed all that had been up in jail. Growing the adult prison
response to this new effective approach. asked of him and has not reoffended. He population of the future, rather than
has returned to school and will shortly acting to put things right, does little or
Restorative justice has sometimes been take up vocational training. All parties nothing to prevent the next victim of
dismissed as "just saying sorry" by those involved in the restorative conference crime.
who have no experience of how rigorous believed the outcomes to be fair and
and effective this approach is.Yet facing proportionate to the offence. Juliet Lyon is Director of Prison
victims is one of the hardest things a
Reform Trust. For more information on
perpetrator of crime can be asked to do. Many victims prefer the experience of the Youth Conferencing Service visit
participating in a restorative justice www.youthjusticeagencyni.gov.uk or
One courageous young victim was able meeting to attending court.Victims were read the PRT report Making Amends
to tell a boy following a violent incident: present in two-thirds of all youth available at
"After it happened I wouldn't go to conferences held in 2008-09. Of them, w w w. p r i s o n r e f o r m t r u s t . o r g . u k
school 'cos I was terrified of you.When I 80% expressed satisfaction with the Article adapted from original
saw you going into school I ran away. I process and 90% said they would publication in the Guardian Online
was terrified. I was shaking. You hurt recommend it to other victims. Sunday, 1st November 2009.

6. Meet our new Directors, Deborah Ginns and Lizzie Nelson
RJC: It'll be great to have you both on RJC: So how will you see the job-share Lizzie Nelson
board as Co-Directors of RJC. What made working?
you want the job? Deborah: We’ve far more experience
Lizzie: I've been interested in Restorative together than you’d find in any one post-
Justice since I read Tim Newell's Forgiving holder. Lizzie is, great and she’s got so
Justice back in 2001. That led on to my much experience in policy development and
taking the job as Head of Restorative delivery in Government and knows RJ
Justice Policy in the Home Office in 2003, research inside out. She’s got a wealth of
and then to becoming a Trustee of the RJC contacts in Whitehall and in the field which
in 2006. Having read all the research is invaluable. Because she’s been involved
evidence on restorative justice, and sat in a on the board and working as Acting
number of restorative justice conferences, I Director, she’ll bring continuity to the post
know how powerful RJ can be in changing and has already been a stalwart with
the lives of both victims and offenders for answering all my questions! For my part,
the better. After a year as Acting Director at since 2001 I’ve been working in Marketing
RJC, I'm delighted to be taking on the role and Communications with my own
of Director, job-sharing with Deborah. The consultancy. Our respective experience and
RJC has such a critical role to play in our professional backgrounds will mean we can
supporting the work of our new Standards
nation, as the national voice for restorative both play to respective strengths in our Co-
and Accreditation Board, and supporting
practice, and as a membership organisation, Director role.
regional and local practitioner networks. In
supporting and representing the whole field.
Lizzie: I'm delighted that we've managed to all this we want to work closely with our
I am delighted to be part of the team taking
attract someone with Deborah's members, partner organisations, and with
the RJC forward.
professional skills to the RJC. Her extensive the fantastic staff and volunteers at the RJC
Deborah: This is my second bite at the track record in marketing and office.
cherry. I was the first Director of the RJC communications, strategic and business
back in 2001-2 and sadly I’d secured development, are just what the RJC needs at Deborah: As an interim manager, my job has
been to go into organisations to help them
another job before we were confident of this point in our development, and I'll have
renew what is good and review and
consistent funding coming in to pay our so much to learn from her! Practically
restructure what isn’t. While I still have a
salaries. It is the only job I would ever have speaking, Deborah will be in the RJC office
fresh pair of eyes and an ability for blue-sky
gone back to. Why? Because restorative on Mondays and Tuesdays, I'll be in on
thinking, I’ll be looking at our future and
justice has got under my skin. It’s just so Wednesdays and Thursdays, and we'll both
how we can secure it and achieve the things
sensible, humane and straightforward. As a be available on our mobiles and by email on
Lizzie has mentioned above. I’m going to be
society we need to engage with each other Fridays. We're aiming to split some of the
consulting you about your ideas, taking into
more and help people to take responsibility work (for example, Deborah will lead
account what we have planned already, and
for their actions, not just in the criminal communications and I’ll lead on policy) and
then I am going to put my business hat on
justice system but in schools and wider we’ll share other aspects such as working on
and look at the hard realities of funding.
communities. A couple of years back we the overall vision and strategy for the RJC.
Lizzie and I will then put together a five-
were burgled and it was really difficult We both want to be in touch with members
year strategy for presentation to the board.
getting a restorative conference. If it hadn’t and partners as this is such a key part of the
The strategy will form the basis on which we
been for my RJC contacts, and people giving job - so we'll both be at RJC conferences
can build our new brand, our website and
up their personal time to help out, it and events wherever possible. Good
our membership.
wouldn’t have happened.Thank you so much communication is essential to making the
Brian and Peter. Watching conferences job-share work. We'll be talking and
always gave me goose-bumps, taking part in meeting up each week - but we also ask RJC: And what will you be doing in the
one was ‘wow’. I want to do what I can to members and colleagues to keep us both time you're not working for RJC
make sure everyone has the same copied in to emails and correspondence Deborah: Professionally, I'm going to
opportunity. wherever possible to make communication continue running my marketing and
run smoothly. communications consultancy. It’ll keep me
in touch with the wider world, and give me a
RJC: What's your vision for the RJC, and wide range of contacts and experiences to
Deborah Ginns what will your priorities be as Director? bring back to the RJC. When I am not
working on either of those, I will (for the
Lizzie: I firmly believe in the RJC as the
national voice for restorative practice in next four years), be studying for my part
England and Wales. Our job as Co- time degree in Graphic Design, Illustration
Directors’, is to strenthen that voice. And I and Marketing. Or, in complete contrast to
see that as being about three core things. the speed of my daily life, you might find me
Securing the finances of the organisation, so slowing to canal-pace on Wexford, our lovely
that we can devote more of our energy to old narrowboat.
supporting our members and speaking up Lizzie: And on my days away from the
for RJ with Government and the media. office I'll be looking after my kids, aged 9, 7,
Second, growing our membership, so that 3 and 1 - keeping me on my toes and
we can represent the whole of the grounded in the world of Star Wars lego -
restorative practice sector more effectively. employing restorative skills in the battle
And third, improving the resources we have between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance
to offer our members, by improving our is probably top of my agenda for peace in
website, creating new e-resources, the known universe at home!

7. 06 |
07
Restorative Justice in Bolivia:First Stirrings
My visit to Bolivia was a fascinating
The course included: with seven participants who were drug
experience.The opportunity to be involved
• Philosophy and principles of restorative offenders, and another with a group serving
in introducing Restorative Justice to
justice sentences for murder and manslaughter. As
Bolivia arose after I did an introductory
workshop, conflict resolution and the women’s prison in Oruro is inside the
• Comparison between retributive and
mediation for CEREFE. This is an men’s prison, both these courses ran with a
restorative justice
institution for children with disabilities mixed group of participants. Prison
• Restorative practices and programmes Fellowship was planning to hold another
and their parents situated in El Alto, a
shanty town of 80,000 people above La • The APAC experience (a ‘restorative course in October 2009 (again with drug
Paz city. CEREFE’s director was so prison’ programme started in Brazil, and offenders), and later to develop their work
taken with the workshop that he asked me available in several countries, promoted by to include direct meetings between victims
to train all his staff in mediation skills, to Prison Fellowship) and offenders.
deal better with the many conflicts in the • Youth in conflict with the law
school. A particular issue was the long- Although Bolivia is a very poor country, the
running conflict between education and • Post-legal conciliation
enthusiasm and voluntary effort, combined
health staff. • Restoration and rehabilitation with a new government attitude, could
• Prisoners and human rights mean that restorative practices are
w ith the aid of my interpreter, a young • Other Latin American experience established there within a fairly short time.
Quaker Aymara English teacher named
Lynette Parker of Prison Fellowship Marian Liebmann has worked in education,
Emma Condori Mamani, I repeated the
International also helped with this course. art therapy, victim support and probation.
introductory workshop and went on to the
My role was to provide a short input on For seven years she was director and
mediation training.The training went well,
restorative justice in the UK, to show projects adviser of Mediation UK. She is an
particularly for those who were able to
participants that RJ was not just a Latin accomplished author with titles including
attend every session which was not always
American concept, but is also available Restorative Justice: How it Works,
possible. We used a role play to work on
elsewhere. More courses are planned and Mediation in Context and Arts Approaches
the health and education staff conflict
they would like to run some RJ pilot to Conflict. She currently divides her time
leading to the group making a plan to
projects - but funding is an obstacle. between freelance Restorative Justice,
introduce a mediation scheme to the
institution. mediation training and consultancy, art
Another development is a pilot of Sycamore therapy and writing.
Tree, the Prison Fellowship victim
Some unexpected opportunities also
awareness course for prisoners, based on Further information about restorative
arose. A meeting with the coordinator of
the Bible story of Zacchaeus. This was run justice in Bolivia from Ramiro Llanos, Julie
Quaker Bolivia Link led to discussion of
by a team of facilitators including Julie Noble, or Lynette Parker. Contacts are
the conflict accompanying social change
Noble, a British Prison Fellowship volunteer available from RJC on request.
(due to the different philosophy of the new
working for ten years in Oruro, a three-hour
government), leading to an increased need
bus journey south of La Paz. Her colleague Thanks to Emma Condori Mamani, Lynette
for conflict resolution and mediation
Karen Thompson adapted the Sycamore Parker and Julie Noble for reading a draft
skills. She wanted to get mediation
Tree course to be more suitable for the of this article to check it for accuracy.
materials translated into Spanish.
Bolivian context in being more oral and
interactive. They ran two such courses, one
In 2008 I had made contact with Ramiro
Llanos, coordinator of Prison Fellowship Mediation role play at CEREFE
Bolivia, and we had communicated via an
interpreter. This year when we met, he
asked if I would do a short input on their
new Restorative Justice course. This had
been set up in response to a new National
Plan for criminal justice, which focused on
restorative justice as the way forward.This
plan was designed to be more in keeping
with the rest of new government thinking
under President Juan Evo Morales Ayma
(Bolivia’s first indigenous President),
aimed at living in harmony with the
environment and other people. Prison
Fellowship Bolivia was also aware of
restorative justice initiatives in other Latin
American countries.
The first course ran from March to August
2009, every Saturday afternoon, at two
venues: one in La Paz and one in El Alto.

8. Events & Vacancies 08
For up-to-date information on RJ events go to: www.restorativejustice.org.uk/?Events
Restorative Justice Reforming Youth Justice
and the Law Community Sentencing and
A fresh approach to justice Restorative Justice
Thursday, 4th February Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Restorative Approaches
9.15am - 5.30pm Central London Development Coordinator
1 Birdcage Walk,Westminster
This event will provide the crucial £30,987 - £33,510 (inc. LW)
Speakers include the former Lord strategy to ensure you are up to speed
with the full range of innovative non- If you have direct experience of the
Chancellor Lord Falconer, shadow
justice ministers David Burrowes custodial approaches to tackling youth Restorative Approach, this is your
(Conservatives) and David Howarth Crime. opportunity to reduce anti-social
(Lib Dem). behaviour – and improve relationships
For further info visit
www.capitaconferences.co.uk or between young people, individuals and
At only £90 for RJC members (£120 the local community. Drawing on your
standard) this event represents contact Ben Aslet 0207 960 7711;
unrivalled value for money. ben.aslet@capita.co.uk proven expertise in this area, you’ll
develop and deliver restorative
For more information and to book visit approaches to actively reduce the
www.restorativejustice.org.uk, Transforming Conflict number of first time entrants into the
or email Gemma on
gemma@restorativejustice.org.uk or The 6th Annual Conference on youth justice system.
call 020 7831 5700 ‘Restorative Approaches in For further details please visit
Schools and Residential Care’ www.greenwich.gov.uk/jobs
RJC Annual Thursday 25th - 26th February Closing Date: 19 February 2010
Practitioners Day Royal York Hotel,York Interview Date: 2nd March 2010
Training and Networking for
Restorative Practitioners The conference will focus on this culture
Tuesday 20th April change from rewards and sanctions to
Birmingham & Midland Institute relationships based on restorative Skills for Justice launch
Save the date for the Restorative approaches. This annual conference, run National Occupational
Justice practitioners’ event of the year. by Transforming Conflict, has become the Standards
Further information to follow at popular ‘home’ conference for all those A New Award for Restorative
www.restorativejustice.org.uk working restoratively with young people in Practitioners
schools, educational units and residential Advance notice of this launch event
care, as well as those who wish to find out in Norfolk towards end of March.
European Forum for R J more about these approaches. For further Date & venue TBA - please check
Biennial conference, Bilbao, Spain, 17-19
June 2010 information please call 01483 203536 or www.restorativejustice.org.uk for
www.euforumrj.org emailing info@benedictbr.co.uk upcoming announcements.
Join the RJC
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Supporters receive a free copy of our quarterly newsletter Resolution, and our monthly e-bulletins, with all the latest
restorative justice news. In addition, full members of the RJC receive discounts on all RJC events, free telephone advice and
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We rely on our membership to help us promote the use of Restorative Justice and adding your support will help us do even
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