Photo by Philipp Birmes from Pexels
Restorative Justice
Le Chéile is committed to a restorative approach in all areas of the organisation. We also run a dedicated Restorative Justice Project that works with young people across Counties Limerick and Clare.
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is a way of responding to wrong doing, which emphasises repairing the harm caused and ‘restoring’ harmony as much as possible between offender, victim, family and community. Restorative Justice aims to:
– Repair the Harm Caused
– Rebuild Relationships
– Restore Communities
Restorative Justice Programmes
Le Chéile uses a number of different approaches tailor-made to the needs of the young person and the victims. This includes:
- Victim Empathy Programme
- Victim/Offender Mediation
- Reparation
- Victim Impact Panels
- Restorative Conference
What are the outcomes?
The project was independently evaluated in 2014 and was found to have significant benefits not only for young people but also for the families and the victims of crime.
Training
Le Chéile also provides training in Restorative Justice for volunteers and professionals.
Le Chéile receives referrals of young people that may be suited to the Restorative Justice programme direct from the Probation Service and An Garda Siochana. The young people are aged between 12 and 23 years. Le Chéile’s Restorative Justice Project Officer works directly with the young people referred.
The Restorative Justice Project is funded by the Probation Service, Victims of Crime Office and Limerick City & County Council under the Social Intervention Fund
“It was good to get the opportunity to tell my parents I didn’t mean to hurt them.”
Young Person that took part in the RJ Project
Information for Young People
If you have been referred to Le Chéile’s Restorative Justice Project and you would like to find out more about what is involved, click the link below. Here you can find out more about what restorative justice is, who you will be working with, what you will be doing each week and what you can expect to get out of it.