If you are a victim of a crime, you may be offered the chance to take part in a Restorative Justice process.  This provides the opportunity for those directly affected by an offence - victim, members of the community and the offender - to communicate and agree how to deal with the offence and its consequences.

Restorative processes typically result in the offender making practical amends (reparation) to repair the harm they have caused - this may include an apology.  Communication between victim and offender can help victims put the offence behind them and be more satisfied with the outcome.

York YOT have a Police Officer in the role of our Restorative Justice Officer who contacts victims and discusses whether they would like to take part in the process.  If they decide that they want to take part, our Restorative Justice Officer will keep in contact with the victim throughout the process.

Restorative Justice is an important part of sentences.  The best known and most commonly used restorative processes are:

• Victim-offender mediation:  this is an indirect form of restorative justice.  The victim and offender, helped by our Restorative Justice Officer, communicate with each other.  Questions may be asked, information exchanged and an agreement reached.
• Restorative conferencing:  this is a direct form of restorative justice.  Victim supporters, as well as victim and offender, meet together in a conference run by our Restorative Justice Officer.  At the end, agreements are made that set out what the offender will do to deal with the harm done.
• Referral Order Panels:  first-time convicted young offenders and parents meet with trained community volunteer panel members to discuss the offence and its consequences and agree a contract to repair the harm and address the causes of offending behaviour.  Victims are invited to attend or have their views put before the panel.