Victim Offender Conferencing
Victim Offender Conferencing
The Northern Territory Government is funding us to participate in a pilot project to support the victims of offenders who are under 18 years of age to participate in a restorative justice conference. We believe victim/offender conferences can be very effective in assisting victims to move forward with their lives after a crime has been committed against them. It is an opportunity for victims to make offenders aware of the harm they have done and make suggestions as to how that harm can be repaired.
We also hope to use the opportunity to interupt the thoughts of young offenders and bring about a reduction in repeat offending. Bringing offenders face to face with the people they have hurt makes them much more accountable than sending them to a court where their lawyer speaks for them and makes excuses for them.
The conference process is scripted and forces the youth to verbalise what they have done, to hear how it has hurt someone and to commit to change. Victims are allowed to express their emotions and ask the questions that linger in thier mind such as: what the offender was thinking at the time of the offence; why they or their businesses were targeted; and how that thinking may have changed. Victims can have input into the outcome plan of the young offender which is agreed to and signed during the conference.
A victim offender conference is often the victims only opportunity to be heard as part of the judicial process. If victims do not want to attend conferences their thoughts and suggestions can be conveyed by the Victim Support Officer on their behalf.
We are also committed to ensuring that victims find out what happens after the conference if they wish to know. We will stay abreast of the developments in the case and update the victim accordingly.
