Joint Advocacy Letter
Inclusion of Restorative Justice in the Victims & Prisoners Bill
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ
Cc:
Alex Chalk
Dominic Raab
Lord Bellamy KC
Advocacy Letter: Victims’ Right to Restorative Justice
We are writing to advocate for a Victims’ Right to Restorative Justice. This Advocacy Letter aims to capitalise on the unique opportunity that the Victims and Prisoners’ Bill is presenting. The Victims’ Code that includes this right is only advisory and thus criminal justice agencies have failed to respect it, letting many victims down.
Amendments that the Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All) tabled covering the aforementioned right received support by several peers from across the political landscape, and it is within this context that we ask the government and your Ministry to act now.
With immense respect for the impactful work conducted by the Ministry of Justice, we are seeking your support to incorporate the right of victims to restorative justice into the Victims and Prisoners Bill. Restorative Justice for All firmly believes in the power of restorative justice to transform our justice system by fostering dialogue, empathy, and accountability, offering a unique avenue for healing victims and supporting offenders in bearing accountability.
In the spirit of promoting a more comprehensive and compassionate legal framework, we ask that the below amendments are introduced into the Bill We believe that integrating restorative justice into the Victims and Prisoners Bill aligns with the evolving landscape of justice and signifies a crucial step towards a more human rights centred approach.
We are eager to engage in further discussions and based on our evidence and expertise to delineate the positive impact that the inclusion of restorative justice could have on our criminal justice system.
Your thoughtful consideration of our proposed amendments is immensely appreciated, and we look forward to the potential positive changes that could arise from this collaborative effort.
Sincerely,
Dr. Theo Gavrielides
RJ4All Founder and Director
Email: t.gavrielides@rj4all.org
Restorative justice is a well-established and evidence-based alternative, dispelling the notion that it merely aims to "let offenders off the hook." Its consistent and remarkable effectiveness in addressing harm is particularly evident in complex crime scenarios, where voluntary and honest participation, coupled with open dialogue, underpins its positive impact on all those affected. The Victims’ Code 2020 recognises the intrinsic value of restorative justice, entitling every victim of crime to receive information about restorative justice (Right 3) and to be referred to a restorative justice service in their area (Right 4).
Empirical evidence unequivocally supports the efficacy of restorative justice, resulting in reduced crime rates, fewer victims, and significant benefits such as empowering victims, facilitating coping and recovery, fostering responsibility in those who have committed crimes, enhancing victim satisfaction, and reducing reoffending. Restorative Justice has been proved to address all those unmet needs of the conventional criminal justice system and give space to the victims to pose the questions they want. Integrating restorative justice principles into the legislative framework, as proposed in the bill, not only aligns with international directives but also positions the criminal justice system to comprehensively address the diverse needs of all stakeholders involved, thereby promoting a more just and effective legal landscape.
Our proposed amendments are evidence-based and non-political. We maintain a neutral stance, presenting arguments drawn from evidence, both for and against restorative justice. These include:
Individuals: 60 - to be updated
Leanne Nye, Restorative Justice and Victim Worker
Nick Johnson, Southwark Borough Councillor
Ben Lyon, Gabrielle Browne, Arthur GAILLARD, Olivia Millard, Joshua Oduro
Anna Foss-Galtier, Carmen Costa, Lee Halan, Linh Nguyen, Le Kritis, Kris Straker, Ryan Javis and more!
Organisations: 10 - to be updated
and StrakerRPSolutions
Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All)
The RJ4All Rotherhithe Community Centre, 30 Plough Way London SE16 2LJ, UK
admin@rj4all.org | +44(0)7708758600 or 07795678904