Posted 15 December 2014
Restorative justice may provide additional justice mechanism for victims of sexual crime, study shows
Despite a succession of revelations about sexual crime perpetrated in families, institutions and in communities, sexual crime is still largely un-reported with less than 1 in 10 cases ever reaching the criminal justice system. For the vast majority of victims of sexual crime a gulf exists between what the criminal justice system promises and what it can actually deliver.
According to the findings of a recently published study, restorative justice could provide an additional justice mechanism for victims of sexual crime which can support the needs of victims, offenders, and their families, in the aftermath of sexual crime in Ireland.
The study entitled “Sexual Trauma and Abuse, Restorative and Transformative Possibilities?” based on 149 interviews with victims, offenders, judges and others, and a review of the global literature found that “all cohorts of participants are in favour of restorative justice in sexual violence cases as an additional justice mechanism for victims of sexual crime, as all participants recognise the considerable gaps that exist in current justice provision for victims of sexual crime in this state”.
Dr Marie Keenan, UCD School of Applied Social Science, Principal Investigator on the report and Ms Bernadette Fahy, Research Consultant, co-investigator on the report.
The study recognises that restorative justice is not for everyone, but says that victims should have a choice on whether it is part of the criminal justice system or runs alongside it. It recommends that “a three-year pilot project of Restorative Justice in certain cases of sexual violence be established in Ireland as a matter of urgency, with a specified agency established for this purpose”.
The collaborative study conducted by UCD, Facing Forward – A Restorative Justice Organisation, and Counselling Psychologist, Ms Bernadette Fahy, was officially launched by Minister Aodhán Ó Riordáin, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality and Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in Dublin Castle on 01 December 2014.
- The full report is available here.
About Facing Forward
Facing Forward brings together people who recognise the potential of Restorative Justice. They believe there is a space in Ireland to develop restorative work that responds to the needs of people impacted by serious crime. It is a voluntary organisation without paid staff, which was set up in 2005. It is comprised of practitioners with expertise in restorative processes, mediation, conflict resolution, youth offending, criminal justice and trauma counselling. Key objectives include research, training, practice and advocacy in Restorative Justice in Ireland.(Produced by UCD University Relations)
