Community Justice Panel

Restorative justice works to resolve conflict and repair harm. It encourages those causing the harm to acknowledge the impact of what they have done.

Using these processes it enables communities to be involved in resolving problems.

Trained volunteers use the scripted model and are all members of their local community who want to make a difference.

Training is provided using trainers accredited by the IIRP UK.

The panel was set up in response to local concerns about anti-social behaviour and the perception that crime was high. The project is a partnership with SSDC, Mendip District Council, Somerset County Council, Avon and Somerset Police, Yarlington Housing Group, Victim Support and Crown Prosecution Service. The Home Office has been involved in funding over recent years.

Cases are referred by the partner agencies, the decision to refer is theirs.

A volunteer is allocated to each case and carries out pre-panel interviews with each party.

The conference takes place with all parties involved.

Each participant is given the opportunity to speak, using resorative questions in a scripted way.

Agreement is sought as to the most appropriate way of resolving issues raised. An Acceptable Behaviour Contract is drawn up and signed by all parties.

The facilitators are all local volunteers who receive training in Restorative Practice and complete an Accredited 3 Day conference Facilitator training (IIRP)

All Volunteers undergo Criminal Record Bureau checks

Training is also given in safeguarding children.

Process

All meetings are conducted in a non-discriminatory manner and all parties are asked to show respect for each other.

Any conditions agreed will be proportional to the incident or offence.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

This is the agreement signed by all participants to ensure the behavior is not repeaterd.

It contains any agreements made as to reparation or restitution.

Breach - The original referring agency can deal with the matter in another way. It can be referred back to the panel for another conference.

The Acceptable Behaviour Contact is not recorded on an offenders criminal record.

Statistics

Over 900 people have taken part in conferences since the start of the panel.

Victim satisfaction is 97%

Re-offending rates are only 3%

For further information:

May 2013 - The project is currently in transition to be run by the Trustees and volunteers from June 2013. 

Further details of the Somerset Community Justice Panel Trust will be available at a later stage.