Every council committed to bringing victims and offenders together

Every local authority in Scotland is to have mediation and
reparation schemes bringing together victims and perpetrators of
crime, Cathy Jamieson, minister for education and young people, has
announced.

Jamieson announced than an extra £2 million will be made
available to kick start restorative justice projects in local
authorities where they currently do not exist. Jamieson said:
“Restorative justice projects – youth justice schemes that bring
victims together with offenders – have a real impact on the problem
and cut youth crime.

“Young offenders who have participated in such schemes are far
less likely to re-offend. Victims who take part feel that their
feelings and experiences are taken seriously,” she said.

Over half of Scotland’s local authorities already have mediation
and reparation schemes. SACRO (Safeguarding Communities – Reducing
Offending) has been pioneering restorative justice services since
1987, and is the largest provider of such services in Scotland.