August 05, 2021
Review chance to improve restorative justice
A Justice Ministry review of the restorative justice services is being welcomed by the sector’s peak body.
Restorative Practices Aotearoa chief executive Mike Hinton says there is always room for improvement, as there are many different providers with their own ways of operating.
He says restorative justice needs to be a true alternative to the court system, which is large, complex and can be scary to people caught up in it.
“The restorative justice world puts a face on who the people are. We deal with human beings, We deal with people. It’s based around people and not numbers in the system. It provides opportunity for people to have a voice and that voice to be valued and heard,” Mr Hinton says.
He says it’s new territory for the ministry, but it has shown it is supportive of the restorative justice kaupapa and wants to make it easier for victims and offenders to use.
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