Merseyside Police & Crime Commissioner / North West Probation Service Restorative Justice Service

The PCC for Merseyside is allocated grant funding by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for victims' services. The grant is issued to commission and/or provide and develop victims' support services, including Restorative Justice (RJ), for Merseyside. Restorative Justice brings those harmed by crime and those responsible for the harm into communication with each other. Restorative Justice offers victims an opportunity to be heard, to ask questions of the offender and to have their say in what they want to happen next. For some people who have been affected by crime, it can help them to explore why the crime happened. It can also help victims to move forward and feel less fearful of crime in the future. Evidence shows that people who take part in a Restorative Justice Process come away feeling satisfied because it has allowed them to have their say. Restorative Justice meets the needs of victims in a way that the traditional Criminal Justice System often cannot.

A fundamental element of Restorative Justice is the exchange of dialogue between the victim (harmed) and offender (harmer).