The government is thinking (probably currently underway) of carrying out trials to allow criminals the option to face victims of their crimes and by doing so can avoid going to court.

Now I see that this unworkable because it only takes one wrong victim to get their revenge once they know what they look like.

Tell me why the government think its a good idea. Surely not to educate them by seeing the grief they cause.

Would you like to see who did the crime?

Could you hold back your anger?

if this measure is applied effectively, i.e to young first offenders, convicted of theft, mugging etc, it tends to work quite well.

It's certainly not applicable in all cases, but I don't think that is what is being proposed

But surely the criminals, because of their very nature, will retaliate as soon as they're 'free' again?

Essentially, no. The principle of restorative justice seems to be about healing the bad feeling between victims and offenders.

Victim - Offender meetings are used with young adults right down to 11 year olds who seem to be developing anti-social and criminal patterns of behaviour. Just skimming through google gives the impression that in quite a few cases, a well mediated meeting between Victim and Offender can actually turn the offender around completely, and the overall recidivism rate is lower than the control.

It's not well established (first tried 22 years ago in Canada it seems) but the supporting evidence for it is growing.

But from everything I can find on the topic, it does seem to be focussed on mostly boys between 11 and 18, not your average rapist or tooled up drug dealer.

My mind has been changed on this as before i was 100% against it but thinking about it this may not be a bad thing.
If it changes the offender then i,m all for it.

There is much evidence that restorative justice is successful in many cases, and some UK police forces have been using such schemes for some time, with good results on re-offending rates.

I know of a current case in this area where somebody is meeting with the people who murdered one of their parents. They want firstly to face the killers for their own benefit, but also want to question why they did what they did, and to let them know the effect that their actions have had.

:o with good results on re-offending rates.

I think we are trying to avoid this :D

Originally posted by John
The government is thinkingA fine example of an oxymoron.

I'd like to meet the guy who mugged my 91 year-old mum which led her to 3 months in hospital, after which she couldn't cope at home so went to a nursing home and died 2 months later.

It might have a positive effect on his future "offending behaviour" but once I knew who it was I'm afraid it might have the opposite effect on my future "offending behaviour" in regards to him.

Now I see that this unworkable because it only takes one wrong victim to get their revenge once they know what they look like.Yes this reason alone IS REASON ENOUGH not to do this very often!

People in the world have TEMPERS and like to get REVENGE more times than not,they could not control themselves!!

The only way this might work all the time is: THE VICTIM BEING THREATEND WITH LEGAL ACTION IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE SUSPECT....

Deleted post.

Yes especially if they have killed them!

Not if they're crime is necrophilia.
It may just excite them more.

It'll be positive for very few of them.

The only way this might work all the time is: THE VICTIM BEING THREATEND WITH LEGAL ACTION IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE SUSPECT....

Surely that's common sense anyway? I don't need someone to threaten me with legal action if something happens, I know already that it is against the law to assault people.

Before a face-to-face lots of shuttle mediation takes place by trained mediators. Victim and offender are only brought together if the situation is right for everyone involved. Consider that about half of offenders already know their victims prior to the offence (friends, family, colleagues) and this would be an opportunity to repair the harm done.

Also on the more serious stuff, only the offender can say why they did what they did and some people want answers, particularly when they have been traumatised or have lost loved ones.

The 'traditional' justice system has made this almost impossible to do until recently and it still depends on where you live. I feel that our mainstream justice system re-victimises the victim and makes it too easy for the offender to hide behind their legal representatives.

I have no interest whatsoever in hearing what motivated somebody to burgle my house or how they might feel about it now, nor am I the slightest bit interested in assisting the person who assaulted me on my own doorstep in coming to terms with their issues. These people have already proved they do not care in the slightest for the effect of their actions on others, so why should I waste my time and effort on them?

I have no interest whatsoever in hearing what motivated somebody to burgle my house or how they might feel about it now, nor am I the slightest bit interested in assisting the person who assaulted me on my own doorstep in coming to terms with their issues. These people have already proved they do not care in the slightest for the effect of their actions on others, so why should I waste my time and effort on them?

You don't have to but it can help some victims come to terms with their own stuff. It is not solely about the offender.