More Hawke's Bay victims are having the opportunity to have a voice through restorative justice.
A local restorative justice provider is positive about recent changes to the Sentencing Act - despite a more than 500 per cent increase in its workload.
Changes to the act last December mean a court must now adjourn certain cases involving victims to find out whether restorative justice is appropriate.
Restorative justice involves victims and offenders coming face-to-face at a conference under Ministry of Justice supervision.
The conferences allow victims to express how the offending has affected them, and those present to acknowledge the harm caused.
Ministry of Justice figures show there were 67 restorative justice referrals in Napier, Hastings and Wairoa in the first three months of this year.
That was more than six times as many as during the corresponding period last year when there were 10. The number of conferences increased from three to 26.
Hawke's Bay Restorative Justice co-ordinator Helen Nesbit and chairman Peter Andersson said their restorative justice referrals had increased by more than 500 per cent since the changes to the Sentencing Act. That was pleasing as it meant more victims were being given the opportunity for healing and to have a voice through restorative justice, they said.
The organisation had added a court representative whose sole job was to be at the courts on list days, meaning there was always a Hawke's Bay Restorative Justice representative present. It had also trained facilitators to full accreditation.
Its senior facilitator now had family violence accreditation so the organisation could handle family violence conferences in house, the pair said.
Hawke's Bay Restorative Justice Trust's main priority was to maintain a high level of service and care with outcomes of benefit to the victims and the community as a whole.
The organisation had needed to limit its weekly capacity on two occasions. It aimed to provide restorative justice in all cases where it was appropriate, said Ms Nesbit and Mr Andersson.
New Zealand Law Society spokesman Geoff Adlam said the new section of the Sentencing Act had an impact on court workloads and at the beginning of 2015 resulted in adverse comments from the judiciary and lawyers. The society supported restorative justice in appropriate cases. Ministry of Justice research indicated it could be an important factor in reducing re-offending and in assisting victims of crime.
Victim focus
•The new provision in the Sentencing Act says cases should be adjourned for restorative justice when the offender has pleaded guilty, victims are involved and no restorative justice has previously taken place.
•The court adjourns proceedings while checks are made to determine whether a restorative justice process is appropriate - taking into account the wishes of the victims.
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