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The Northern Irish Model of Restorative Justice. Tim Chapman University of Ulster. Northern Ireland and Restorative Justice. Community system Community restorative justice Ireland Alternatives NI School system Children ’ s Services Family Group Conferences Children ’ s Units.
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The Northern Irish Model of Restorative Justice Tim Chapman University of Ulster
Northern Ireland and Restorative Justice Community system • Community restorative justice Ireland • Alternatives NI School system Children’s Services • Family Group Conferences • Children’s Units State system • Low risk – Police restorative cautioning • Medium risk – Public Prosecution Service referral for diversionary conference by Youth Conference Service • High risk – Youth Court referrals to Youth Conference Service • Priority young offenders programme • Prison Service – rehabilitation and resettlement
Youth Conferences • Statutory since 2003 • Mainstream • Prosecution referred • Youth court referred • No cherry picking • Referrals and ratification by PPS or Youth Court
The Balanced Model Community Community safety and reintegration Harm Person responsible for harm Injured party Reducing risk and working towards a better life Accountability, protection and repairing the harm
Core Values • Responsibility • Relationship • Respect
Models of addressing challenging behaviour and its aftermath High Do to Out of anger Be punitive Stigmatising Coercive Punitive Do with Respect Be restorative Inclusive Participative Transformative Responsibility Move away from Out of fear Be neglectful Indifferent Passive Avoidance Do for Out of sympathy Be permissive Protective Interventionist Rescuing Low Relationship High Adapted form McCold and Wachtel’s Social Discipline Window
The Youth Conference Process Pre-Conference Conference Post Conference
The Dialogue Approach Storytelling Expression of emotion Dialogue on needs and action
Over 9,000 Referrals *2010/11 Apr - Dec
Increasing proportion of disposals, reducing custody, reducing reoffending
Outcomes for Youth Conferences • Number of youth conferences 9,000 + • Over 50,000 people have participated in a youth conference • Victim attendance; around 70% • Victim and young person satisfaction ; 90% and 95% • 8 out of 10 victims prefer the youth conference to the traditional court process • 100% victims would recommend conferences to others • 94% successful completion of plans • England and Wales put three times as many young people into custody as Northern Ireland
Consistent practice • Robust research based practice model • Practice manual • Performance targets • Supervision
Commitment to professional development • Accredited training • Supporting the increasing demands of practice
Courses Three modules • Undergraduate certificate • Postgraduate Certificate Six modules • Postgraduate certificate • Postgraduate diploma Nine modules or dissertation • Masters
Students • Open Course 23 students • Youth Conference Service 48 students • Police Service 80 + students • Community Restorative Justice 38 students • Prison Service 38 Students • Youth Justice Agency 66 Students • Priority Young Offenders Programme 30 Students • Family Group Conferences 40 Students
University Modules • Foundation skills • Reflecting on Restorative Practice • Responding restoratively to people who have been harmed • Responding restoratively to people responsible for harm • Enhancing restorative skills • Family group conference practice and processes • Building a restorative society • Restorative responses to sexual harm • Restorative responses to serious and persistent harmful behaviour • The restorative prison • The restorative school • The restorative community • The restorative organisation • The restorative children’s home • Restorative practices and faith organisations
Effective Practice • External evaluation • Performance targets • Continuous improvement
Building Blocks Innovative Practice Effective Practice Competent Practice Consistent Practice
Priority Youth Offenders Project • Intensive relationship • Circle of Support and Accountability
Other challenges • Updating practice > revise practice manual • Rebalancing the state and community programmes • Prison reform
Thank you Contact tj.chapman@ulster.ac.uk