Restorative Justice Council launch new report to guide PCC candidates
Tuesday, 15 March, 2016
The RJC is pleased to announce the publication of a new guide on restorative justice for candidates standing in the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections in May. Among PCCs’ many responsibilities, they will have a crucial role in the future development of restorative justice.
Since Ministry of Justice funding was given to PCCs to make restorative justice available to victims of crime in their areas, new restorative justice services have emerged across the country. As a result, more victims than ever before are able to access restorative justice.
In May 2016, incoming PCCs will need to decide whether to build on this by continuing to invest in restorative justice. The money is available – funding for victims’ services has been frozen for 2016-17 – and the evidence shows that restorative justice works.
The RJC’s guide on restorative justice recommends that every new PCC, once elected, asks what is being done to make restorative justice available in their area. PCCs should review the progress made and make sure that restorative justice has been prioritised, then take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that victims of crime in their area can access a high quality restorative justice service. Supporting victims of crime to recover and move on is a key part of a PCC’s role and making restorative justice available is the best way to do it.
Jon Collins, the RJC’s chief executive officer, said: “Ensuring the widespread availability of restorative justice should be at the forefront of every PCC’s agenda. It both supports offender rehabilitation and puts victims at the centre of the criminal justice process.
“As the national body for the restorative justice field, we have worked with PCCs to support their development of restorative justice provision. This guide is a continuation of that work for new PCC candidates and we look forward to collaborating with them to ensure that every victim of crime can access restorative justice.”
Download the guide here.
