Restorative Justice

Many of the jobs within the field of restorative justice involve working for local government departments.  The practice of restorative justice involves creating strong relationships that help prevent and manage conflict in schools, colleges, hospitals, prisons, workplaces and the community.  Those classed as victims are provided with the chance to communicate with their offender and explain the effect of the crime. Victims are empowered as they have a chance to speak. Offenders often realise for the first time the full extent of the harm that they have done, enabling them to take responsibility and show remorse.

A valuable field to work within, the research provided by the government reveals that it can provide an 85% victim satisfaction rate along with a 14% reduction in the rate of reoffending. A career within this field will enable you to allow victim and offender to share their experiences, discuss the repercussions of the crime and look at what can be done positively to move forward. The offender may apologise or show remorse in some other way, such as by compensating the victim. Victims are empowered by being able to take an active role, helping decrease their feeling of stress or anxiety. Instead of focusing on punishment and retribution, the victim and offender face each other as real people, each trying to understand the other’s situation.

You will need to be an empathic individual to work within this field. Building relationships between the two sides – victim and offender– is crucial.  At the same time, you must not take sides. Your role is a placatory one, helping to provide a calm and conciliatory environment in which both sides can come together to communicate. As a restorative practitioner, you will have a great deal of contact with those negatively affected by conflict. You are there to provide support and help bring about understanding.

• Employment Coach
• Case Worker – Prison Setting
• Case Worker – Through the gate
• Support Worker – Ex offenders
• Contract Manager

Click here to see our current list of vacancies.