Victims Voices in Restorative Justice

The Rights of the Victim

The European Victims Directive and the measures be-

low are due for implementation on the 16th November

2015:

For Providers

Victims Voices in Restorative Justice aims to in-

crease awareness around restorative justice through

victims voices and a capacity building programme. The

Programme offers CPD accredited face to face and

online training workshops with a view to build up

knowledge around restorative justice to future users

and providers of restorative justice. The programme

also includes a victim-led awareness campaign that will

allow victims to have a direct input in the shaping of

victim services. The programme is funded by the Minis-

try of Justice and will be delivered by The IARS Interna-

tional Institute in partnership Khulisa UK.

Funded by:

14 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road,

Canada Water, London SE16 2XU, UK

Contact@iars.org.uk

www.iars.org.uk

+44 (0) 20 706 443 80

@_IARS_

Get Involved

Are you a Victim of Crime?

We are keen to hear from victims and their families espe-cially those who have direct experience of restorative jus-tice. If you want to get involved email us at con-tact@iars.org.uk or call 020 70644382. You can also:

Join our free face to face training programmes for victims of crime.

Undertake our online free online course Asserting your rights through the EC Victims Directive http://www.rj4all.info/content/victimscourse

For Providers:

Join our free CPD accredited course Victims' Rights in Re-storative & Criminal Justice that aims to equip profession-als who are working with victims and their families with the tools and knowledge that they need to conform to the new Victims Directive. The programme is also available as an e-course at http://www.rj4all.info/content/RJE-etraining

Free *face to face training confirmed date - 28th April 2015 in central London [*CPD certification charges 9,99]

Sign up to the Support Victims pledge indicating that victims of crime and their families are:

treated with respect

provided with appropriate safeguards at all stages of the restorative and criminal justice processes

supported and empowered to know their rights.

To sign up to our next course or/and to the pledge please complete this form and return it to IARS Market stall or contact@iars.org.uk

Name_____________________

Organisation _______________Email:__________________

Accessible and understandable information re-

lating to the crime

Access to victim support and specialist support

services

The ability to review a decision not to prosecute

An individual assessment to identify vulnerability

and special protection measures

Interpretation and translation, where necessary

Protection of all victims

Restorative justice safeguards

Appropriate training for support

staff .

The core objective of the Victims Directive is to deal

with victims needs in an individual manner, based on

an individual assessment and a targeted and participa-

tory approach.

For more information visit :

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/criminal/victims/rights/ind

ex_en.htm

For Victims

Restorative Justice and Victims of Crime

Restorative justice services, including for example vic-

tim - offender mediation, conferencing and sentencing

circles, can be of great benefit to the victim and their

families. They can help them to recover from the im-

pact of the crime, to ask questions of their offender and

to provide an opportunity for that offender to make

amends. A primary consideration should be the inter-

ests and needs of the victim, repairing the harm done

to them and avoiding further harm.

The EU Victims Directive defines restorative justice as:

Any process whereby the victim and the offender are

enabled, if they freely consent, to participate actively in

the resolution of matters arising from the criminal

offence through the help of an impartial third party.

This complements IARS definition of restorative justice

as:

an ethos with practical goals, among which to restore

harm by including affected parties in a (direct or indi-

rect) encounter and a process of understanding through

voluntary and honest dialogue (Gavrielides 2007: 139).

Minimum Standards Your Assessment

A strong and confident victim will benefit from a

restorative process, as well as contributing mas-

sively towards its success. We provide this infor-

mation in the hope that it will help build that con-

fidence and that the harm done to you will be re-

paired.

As a victim of crime you will be entitled to an individual

assessment of risk. This assessment is part of the restora-

tive justice process too.

There are many factors which should be considered, espe-

cially whether you may be at risk of intimidation and to

retaliation, or vulnerable to secondary and repeat victimi-

sation. If you do consider yourself to be particularly vul-

nerable, or that your case is of a sensitive or complex na-

ture then you should state that very clearly.

You should be able to see this assessment, to agree it and

to have a copy. You should receive, or ensure that you

have assurances as to the confidentiality of any infor-

mation that you give. Who will have access to it.

This provision is one of the major achievements in the

Victims Directive as it makes clear that there needs to

be a case-by-case approach towards victims.

The more informed and involved you are in this process,

then the safer and more satisfied you are likely to be.

Find out more about your rights by registering to our FREE

online course for victims Asserting your Rights through

the new Victims Directive. The course is specifically de-

signed for victims of crime and their families with a view

to empower them by increasing their knowledge of their

rights in the criminal justice system as set out in the vic-

tims Directive

http://www.rj4all.info/content/victimscourse

Victims should Be treated in a respectful, sensi-

tive, tailored, professional and non-discriminatory

manner, in all contacts with restorative justice ser-

vices

These services should be Safe and competent

Restorative justice processes should only take place

if they are In the interest of the victim. Only you

can decide if this is the case.

You should be provided with full and unbiased

information about the process, before agreeing to

participate in any restorative justice process.

You should only take part if this with your free and

informed consent.Participation in restorative jus-

tice is voluntary. This is your decision.

Your offender should have acknowledged the

basic facts of the case and you should be made

aware of this.

Any agreement arrived at must be voluntary and

may be taken into account in any further criminal

proceedings.

Discussions in restorative justice processes that

are not conducted in public are confidential and

are not subsequently disclosed. However there

are limits to confidentiality and you should ensure

that you are informed about what can be disclosed

and who will know about your information.

* as per the E.C. Victims Directive

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/criminal/victims/rights/index_

en.htm