Restorative Justice Action Plan 2019 - 23
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Quarterly Report
1st July - 30th September 2024
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This report updates on the progress and delivery of the Restorative Justice (RJ) Action Plan for the reporting period of 1 July - 30 September 2024. An annual report for the period 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 is currently underway and when signed off by the RJ stakeholder group will be circulated. All previous quarterly and annual reports are available on the CJS Learning Hub.
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Outcome 1: Restorative Justice is available across Scotland
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Progress
The Policy and Practice Framework Document
The draft document was shared with key stakeholders and RJ practitioners to gather their expert feedback and insights. Following this, the document will be presented to the National RJ Stakeholder Group in October 2024, with further amendments necessary. To incorporate these, the document will return to this group for final amendments in February 2025. Thereafter, the Scottish Government will facilitate a public consultation prior to any decision to publish.
Restorative Justice Test Cases
This quarter Community Justice Scotland and Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice engaged with a broad range of local authorities, strategic groups and third-sector providers concerning the test case project. This has included developing links with victim-led organisations. We are exploring seven adult cases and four children’s cases which sit across nine local authorities and concern a broad spectrum of harm types.
Meetings with stakeholders have centred upon supporting local consideration of existing Restorative Justice (RJ) practices/capacity and supporting organisational processes to enable stakeholders to participate in the test case project.
CJS and CYCJ have co-designed a monitoring and evaluation framework to capture learning from the test case project.
Engagement with Police Scotland
CJS and CYCJ have met with multiple Police Scotland personnel to discuss operational considerations for Restorative Justice. These ongoing discussions will support the design of services that build upon current practice and existing operational systems.
Restorative Justice Prison Protocol
CJS is coordinating a short life working group in partnership with Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to develop a protocol to ensure a consistent approach for when restorative justice is taking place in custody and to allow equity of access to restorative justice. The group continues to meet this quarter and has developed a draft protocol, which is currently being refined. Once a draft process is agreed, SPS will design a Standard Operating Procedure for internal use, while working with staff to improve awareness and understanding of RJ. The process can also be built into the Policy and Practice Framework.
Survey on RJ Service Provision for Children across Scotland
In quarter one, CYCJ developed and distributed a twenty two-question survey via Qualtrics to map existing Restorative Justice (RJ) practices involving children under 18 across Scotland. The survey aimed to identify service strengths, gaps, and potential partner agencies for the Scottish Government’s RJ test case project.
The survey was shared through CYCJ’s e-Bulletin, distribution lists, and RJ networks, generating 123 completed responses (after adjustments for incomplete entries). The data received has been analysed over this quarter, with findings set to be published in quarter three.
Restorative Justice Inputs
In addition to the continued engagement with the local authorities in relation to RJ service provision and test cases, CJS has also looked at using restorative justice to tackle antisocial behaviour. In July, we met with the Scottish Professional Football League Trust to discuss the potential inclusion of RJ within programmes designed to reduce antisocial behaviours at football matches. In August, CJS and CYCJ met with senior members from Police Scotland and Social Work in East Renfewshire to explore restorative approaches to community issues and local Anti-Social Behaviour.
In July, CJS team delivered a restorative justice workshop at HMP Low Moss, introducing participants undertaking arts projects to RJ principles and their potential to support rehabilitation and healing. The dialogues during the workshop provided inspiration to artworks, the exhibition of which is scheduled for October. In September, CJS has also engaged with Prison Fellowship Scotland to explore its involvement in the national RJ landscape. The organisation has since joined the RJ in Prison Protocol Group and contributed to the RJ art exhibition.
In this quarter, CYCJ attended and presented at several forums including Glasgow’s Youth Justice Strategy Group, which supported further engagement with the test case project and resulted in CYCJ’s work on Restorative Justice featuring in the Glasgow Youth Justice Strategy Group’s annual report. The input with Midlothian’s Community Alcohol Partnership also supported stakeholder engagement with the test case project and formed part of ongoing support of Midlothian’s local development of RJ.
CYCJ also continues to engage with the Scottish Network for Restorative Justice Researchers (SNRJR) in order to maintain an overview of current relevant research activity in Scotland.
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Outcome 2: Restorative Justice is delivered by highly trained and skilled facilitators
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Progress
Restorative Justice Online Learning Module
During quarter two, 79 individuals have registered for the module. This brings the number of people registered since the module’s launch to 215.
The module is available for stakeholders and the public and can be accessed via the CJS Learning Hub.
RJ Training and Supervision
The RJ test case project has involved ensuring RJ providers have access to high-quality training and experienced RJ supervision in their delivery of Restorative Justice. Where this has not been immediately available, we have supported integration of this.
Several practitioners have contacted CYCJ to inquire about training and they have been signposted to relevant organisations currently delivering RJ training. This has included colleagues from Education and Psychological Services seeking RJ training and support.
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Outcome 3: There is a public awareness and understanding of Restorative Justice across Scotland
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Progress
Digital Engagement
In this quarter, the CJS learning hub’s section providing Restorative Justice content has been viewed 475 times by 252 individual users, and generated 1821 engagements and 5 downloads.
Restorative Justice Art Exhibition
In efforts to increase public awareness and understanding of Restorative Justice and reach new audiences, CJS team has secured a place to participate in the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival with an arts exhibition “Restorative Voices: Seen and Heard”, exploring unique perspectives on the intersection of mental health, wellbeing, the justice system, and Restorative Justice. In July, a Restorative Justice workshop was delivered by Community Justice Scotland at HMP Low Moss, providing participants with insights into RJ, its impact on mental health, and its role in supporting healing. This workshop inspired the creation of the exhibition’s artwork.
During this quarter, the CJS team focused on organising the exhibition and collaborated with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and Fife College’s Learning Centre at SPS to produce the featured artwork.
The exhibition will take place at Maryhill Community Centre, Glasgow, from 14 – 17 October 2024. Alongside the artwork, it will showcase RJ’s transformative potential in supporting rehabilitation and healing. Promotion through social media and the festival’s media partners will further amplify awareness. Full performance outcomes and audience feedback will be shared in the next quarter’s report.
Cross-Border Collaboration on RJ's Promotion
CYCJ met with WhyMe? national charity delivering and supporting RJ in England and Wales to strengthen cross-border collaboration and learning in relation to effective promotion of RJ.
Restorative Justice Week 2024
Planning for Restorative Justice week 2024 commenced this quarter.
Highlighting Survivors’ Voices in Restorative Justice
In September, Gael Cochrane, Learning Development and Innovation Lead at CJS, wrote a blog reflecting on her work with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ) International Working Group on Gender-Based Violence. The blog focused on one of the group’s recent publications amplifying the voices of survivors of sexual harm who have engaged in restorative justice.
The blog, which includes a link to the publication “From Survivors to Survivors: Conversations on Restorative Justice in Cases of Sexual Violence” can be accessed here: Helping survivors of sexual harm share their views with fellow victims - Community Justice Scotland.
The blog has been promoted on social media and will be shared again during RJ Week 2024, alongside the EFRJ webinar launching the publication.
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Stakeholder Spotlight
Dr Clair Aldington
Tackling International Political Violence and Terrorism
with Restorative Justice and Art:
Interview with Dr. Clair Aldington
The of the Encounters is an international restorative circle group dedicated to addressing the harm caused by political violence and terrorism. Their mission is to facilitate restorative dialogues that bridge divides and foster understanding. The group’s work is steeped in using creative expressions and art as a means to connect the polarising parties and start these conversations.
We are grateful to have Dr. Clair Aldington, a Shetland-based artist, researcher, restorative justice (RJ) facilitator and a member of this restorative circle group, share her reflections on the group’s work and an art exhibition that has been born from it.
Read the full interview here:
How we tackled international political violence with restorative justice and art - Community Justice Scotland
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Restorative Justice Animation
Use this animation of Restorative Justice in Scotland to help raise awareness.
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Useful documents
Click the button below for useful information about Restorative Justice: research papers, reports and other documents, guidance and toolkits, signposting to other websites.
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Stakeholder Feedback Form
Click the button below to complete the form we are currently testing for communication with stakeholders. Please note, you may communicate anonymously, no personal details are required.
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