Mixed results for restorative justice scheme
12 Jun 06
Report indicates no greater impact on reducing low-grade youth offending
The first evaluation of a restorative justice project in Glasgow has given it a qualified approval rating.
The study found that while the majority of those involved with the scheme, as offenders, victims or police, reported positive experiences, cases which involved carrying out restorative work had a lower reoffending rate among those who failed to turn up.
The scheme targets the 8-16-year-old age group, giving them the opportunity to apologise to victims and try to make amends, as an alternative to being reported to the children's panel.
The Scottish Executive funds 4,000 places a year on restorative justice programmes. It applies to offences such as vandalism, assault, drunkenness and breach of the peace.
Bill Whyte, the author of the report and director of the Centre for Criminal Justice Social Work at Edinburgh University, said there was little evidence to suggest restorative justice had a greater impact on reducing youth offending than other forms of diversion for very minor and first-time offenders.
About 1,000 Glasgow youngsters were involved in the first year of the project. Of these, around three fifths received a "restorative warning" - attending with their families at a police office to discuss the consequences of their actions. Of this number, 71% did not reoffend within 12 months and 18% were referred back to the children's reporter after causing more trouble.
Of the 100 teenagers who attended restorative justice conferences, where they sat down with the victims of their crimes to discuss the impact of their actions and apologise for what they had done, 59% did not reoffend within 12 months, but 34% were involved in at least one further incident.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said that weaknesses identified in the report had been tackled through changes in methods.