Restorative Justice

We had a tyre slashed on the car last November. Ours was one of 67 or so tyres slashed on about 52 cars, all done by a group of kids but one lad in particular did the bulk of them. Despite a big effort by the police the main culprit wasn't prosecuted by the CPS because "there was insufficient evidence to ensure a conviction".

A few weeks ago I was asked by the local CBM if I'd be interested in this Restorative Justice thing for one of the lads involved - who admitted he might have done one or two tyres but again wasn't to be prosecuted. I invited the CBM round to discuss whether I wanted to be involved or not. It seems that even though the lad was never charged he wants to make an effort to turn his life around and had asked for the RJ thing, although I suspect he'd been talked into it by his youth worker or the plod. Apparently with support from his family and his own efforts he's making good progress and hasn't been in bother since the night of the short knives.

So, if I can help the lad should I be bothered? Well I was and volunteered myself and this afternoon popped along to the Youth Offending offices with another neighbour to confront the lad. Now he's not the sharpest tool in the box but he was clearly uncomfortable and embarrassed (as was his dad) and as our circumstances were, shall we say difficult at the time of the incident I was able to lay things on quite thick and he did quite a bit of squirming. His apology seemed heartfelt (although I doubt he was responsible for doing our car) and I think that at 15 years of age he's hopefully going to get himself on a better path in life.

So, did I do the right thing? Should I have bothered with a 15 year old scrote or like most of the 50 or so people affected 'been too busy'? What would you have done given the opportunity and is RJ a good or bad thing? I know that KorkyKat has a low opinion of RJ but what about the rest of you?

Originally Posted by Yambo

So, did I do the right thing? Should I have bothered with a 15 year old scrote or like most of the 50 or so people affected 'been too busy'? What would you have done given the opportunity and is RJ a good or bad thing? I know that KorkyKat has a low opinion of RJ but what about the rest of you?

In a word, yes.

If it means one less offender on the streets, and if it might just deter others, it has to be worth it.

Yes, plus you now know what he looks like so you can meet out your own form of "restoritive justice" late one night.

Good on you Yambo.

I'm not sure if RJ would work in all cases, but surely it can't be a bad thing, on top of whatever else is being meted out.

At the very least the lad now has an idea that the victims are actually people, and that there are consequences to his actions.

Originally Posted by Yambo

Should I have bothered with a 15 year old scrote or like most of the 50 or so people affected 'been too busy'? What would you have done given the opportunity and is RJ a good or bad thing? I know that KorkyKat has a low opinion of RJ but what about the rest of you?

I think I'd have been "too busy".

I can't see anything "restorative" about this.

Restorative is paying to put things as they were and giving evidence against the "main offender" (yes, I'm aware how likely that is )

Rightly or wrongly I wouldn't GAS about anyone who'd done this sort of thing.

Odds on I'd have gone along, never heard of it before (shows what I read huh). Hope it scares the crap out of the lad on one level, or at least makes him think about what he did.

Originally Posted by Dingbat

In a word, yes.

If it means one less offender on the streets, and if it might just deter others, it has to be worth it.

To be honest I didn't see it as one less offender, more as maybe helping a young lad (and his family) turn his life around.

Originally Posted by LondonDRZ

Yes, plus you now know what he looks like so you can meet out your own form of "restoritive justice" late one night.

This lad isn't the one that I really wanted to eyeball . . .

Originally Posted by Yambo

To be honest I didn't see it as one less offender, more as maybe helping a young lad (and his family) turn his life around.



This lad isn't the one that I really wanted to eyeball . . .

I am sure he could be "pursuaded" to part with that info. My comment was very tongue in cheek as I am sure you gathered but I do think that putting a face to a crime does help. Victims go from being victims to a person and an identity and hopefully the little scrote will think of this before he screws around with other people property.

Just out of interest, what was his fathers take on what his lad had done?

Originally Posted by LondonDRZ

Just out of interest, what was his fathers take on what his lad had done?

His dad was clearly not happy with him and was embarrassed about being there and learning the impact a simple slashed tyre can have on people's lives but it was also clear to see that he was made up with the way the youth worker and the police were saying his lad was making good progress. I think he has two other sons who are no bother but this lad has caused him problems.

Originally Posted by LondonDRZ

Yes, plus you now know what he looks like so you can meet out your own form of "restoritive justice" late one night.

This

I think you did the right thing.

The fact that his father was there is a good sign, at least he isn't playing the "my son's a good lad and it's the others" card.

Hopefully he has been stopped in his tracks before things went further and he ended up in some serious trouble.

Sounds like you did the right thing to me too. Putting a face to a mindless act changes a lot (I would think).

I have seen it applied in many occassions and i doubt it has much effect in the majority of cases so i am not a fan of it, BUT it might work for a percentage of yoofs to give them a scare although generally being in the cell block area when a door busts open and the coppers are rolling around the floor with some screaming maniac has more of an "Oh Shit" effect

I saw a 15 year old who appeared quite cocky getting the cell tour prior to his RJ meeting turn to sheet white when something similar happened in front of him

If you think it was worth it then thats part of the whole process

Originally Posted by Yambo

To be honest I didn't see it as one less offender, more as maybe helping a young lad (and his family) turn his life around.

And y'know what, as someone who's been round the block a few times, seen some of the good and ill the world has to dish out and has had the experience of raising a fine upstanding son of his own (he told me to say that) I wouldn't have expected anything less of you.

That's the difference between someone who has the maturity to balance out retribution and reformation, and someone who's happy to talk the big talk about baseball bats from behind a keyboard.

If it works im all for it