Restorative Justice Programs in Victoria and New South Wales

Topics in criminology

Restorative justice refers as a process of respond to misconduct that focus on curing the
wounds of the victims, communities, offenders due to the criminal behavior (Daly, 2017).
Restorativejustice in Australia builds with the main objective to deal with the offenders who
admitted their offence. It can be implemented along with the criminal justice system. In the
Australia, several restorative justice program conducted by the government, which is most
suitable for the younger and the less serious offenders (Mika& Zehr, 2017). With the passing of
time the restorative justice become an integral part of the current criminal justice system. The
initiation of restorative programs in justice setting was done through addressing juvenile which
arise with development of separate court system relating to offending children. The specified
court was believed to be best institution till it was criticized for failure in protection right as well
as for rehabilitation of children. Though in late eighties diversion programs relating to restorative
justice were growing in enhanced manner. It widens the scope of social control through
managing the trivial offences which were previously ignored. These developments proved
influential through nineties as every jurisdiction resolved the existing shortcomings in juvenile
justice system.
With this regards, in the Victoria there are several programs related with the restorative justice
because of the process they apply in respond to and cure the harm by the criminal offence . Some
programs are defined below-
 Victim-offender settlement program – In this programs mediators are trained to bring the
offenders and victims together which enable to make the discussion related with the
crime, its consequences, and the steps requires to make the situation correct.
 Conferencing programs – This program is just like the Victim-Offender settlement
program, but in this program along with the Victims and offenders, their family members
and community also involved and the part of the discussion.
 Victims-offender panels – this panel brings together the victims and offenders which are
not related with each other but they are connected through the common crime and not by
the specific offence that have participated the others.
 Victim assistance program – this program give the assistance to victims of the crime as
they improve from the offence and carry on through the criminal justice process.

 Prison program – this program provided the services to the offender at the time of the
imprisonment and after the imprisonment.
Apart from the all above restorative programs, the Youth JusticeConferencing program
started in 1995, which is based on the regulations contained in Children and Young Person Act
1989. The program is conducted by the human service department and carries out by the
severalnon-governmentalorganizations (Delgado, 2017). This program is eligible for the person
who is the age of from 10 to 18 year at the time of commitment of offence. The offender must
establish the wrongdoing, which is not related with the sexual offence, severe offence of
forcefulness, murder. The person must refer to the program within12 month of the start of
offence. The behavior of the person, participation is considered by the court. The program leads
to the positive and good impact on the youngsters by distracting them from the order of the
supervisory committee and contact with the criminal justice system. All the contributors of this
program understood that the participation by the victims leads to the better conferencing results.
On the basis of the above analysis, various program carried out with respect to the
restorative justice system. The program helps in avoiding the excessive and extended criminal
justice system. It also motivates the family members, relatives, friends to help the younger
person (Abel, 2017). It provides an opportunity to an offender to reintegration with the family as
well as community members. It is also beneficial for the society as a whole because it enable the
family member and community members to make the participation in the decision making
process, which also improved the relationship of the community with the young members (Van
Ness, & Strong, 2014). The main benefit of the restorative justice is to improve the satisfaction
of the victim by implementing the proper justice process.
Apart from the Victoria, New South Wales has also implemented the restorative justice
unit in the department of corrective services. The main focus of this department is on the victim
offender conferences and also provides the several types of restorative justice process. The unit
by working with the victims of offence and offender along with their families and community
assist in providing the opportunity of curing and preserving. The main objective of the
restorative justice in the New South Wales is to bring back the values such as duty, care,
understanding between the community members and other people.