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Restorative Justice Aotearoa has welcomed changes to the Sentencing Act that will allow greater access to restorative justice.
General manager Mike Hinton says in effect District Courts are moving from an opt in system to an opt out, where every victim will get a chance to face the offender if they want.
He says it’s positive for not only the victim and those around them but also for the offender and their family.
" To actually sit down and talk as people, to listen, to hear each other and have that opportunity to tell that person, 'chey this is what you did, this is how it affected me'. Putting it back on a personal level. We do not have that in our justice system at the moment
Mike Hinton says a 2011 Justice Ministry survey found four out of five victims who attended a restorative justice conference were satisfied with the outcome.
FOR THE FULL NTERVIEW WITH MIKE HINTON CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjQ4ODE=
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