Restorative justice enables victims to meet or communicate with their offender to explain the real impact of their actions. It gives someone affected by crime the chance to have their say, explain what the effect was on them and to seek a direct explanation from the offender about what they did.

Through this the offender can begin to understand the effect of their behaviour and make amends. Restorative justice does not replace the criminal justice system, but helps to deal with the emotions and stress caused by crime, so the person harmed can move on with their lives.

If you’ve been a victim of a crime it’s likely to have been a deeply upsetting and unsettling experience. For many people restorative justice helps to get closure after a traumatic time. People who have participated in restorative justice have reported that it has been an empowering experience which allowed them to feel more in control of what happened to them.