Restorative Justice Schemes get go ahead from CJI to seek Protocol Accreditation

Four community-based restorative justice schemes supervised by Northern Ireland Alternatives have been recommended for accreditation under the Government’s community-based restorative justice protocol.

 

Four community-based restorative justice schemes supervised by Northern Ireland Alternatives have been recommended for accreditation under the Government’s community-based restorative justice protocol.

 

A report published by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland has indicated that, in its view, there are no obstacles to the organisation or the schemes it sponsors securing accreditation.

“This initial inspection of the schemes which operate in loyalist areas was carried out at the request of Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson MP,” said Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.

 

“It was designed to assess whether or not the schemes met or had the potential to meet the standard for accreditation in accordance with the Government protocol.

 

“CJI’s inspection found the schemes worked to a high standard with difficult young people in their communities. Inspectors were impressed by the professionalism and dedication shown by the staff they observed,” said Mr Chivers.

 

He added that staff and volunteers were well trained, child protection policies were in place, good records were kept and while practices could be made more consistent, the schemes did have widespread support in their communities.

 

Fears that community-based restorative justice schemes were a front for paramilitary organisations or that people were forced into taking part in restorative justice by paramilitaries were also addressed in the course of the inspection.

 

“Inspectors found no evidence that there was any such problem in relation to Northern Ireland Alternatives or its schemes. There was no evidence of the schemes being driven by paramilitaries and every indication to the contrary.

 

“We also found no evidence of Alternatives providing an alternative policing or judicial system,” stated Mr Chivers.

 

The report states Inspectors found that the work undertaken by the schemes was varied and ‘criminal justice’ as such formed only a small part of it.

 

“Most of the work undertaken by the schemes relates to community development, and for that reason,” said Mr Chivers, “Inspectors would suggest that if Ministers did wish to support the schemes, core funding should not necessarily come from the criminal justice system.

 

“In light of the findings of this initial Inspection, CJI has recommended to the Minister that Northern Ireland Alternatives and the schemes it supports are suitable for accreditation subject to their agreement to operate inside the criteria of the Government Protocol,” concluded Mr Chivers.