Developing Restorative Justice in Policing in England

• In Event: Police Approaches to Restorative Justice, Domestic Violence, and At-Risk Young Fathers

Abstract

The government in England and Wales has made a commitment that all victims are entitled to be given information about restorative justice possibilities and that such provision should be available at all stages of criminal justice. Research is showing that, at the policing stage, there is provision for many different kinds of restorative justice, but also that provision is patchy and does not always meet appropriate criteria. Drawing from previous mapping exercises and inspection reports, and from new research with three police forces, the paper will set out the complex picture of ways in which restorative justice is being delivered in relation to adult and young offenders by police officers themselves and by police referring to other providers. It will discuss the challenges in developing good quality provision and in what ways police officers may be facilitated to provide or signpost to restorative justice which meets victim needs.

Authors

• Joanna Shapland, University of Sheffield, UK

• Adam Crawford, University of Leeds