The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, through the Governor’s Office and the Overseas Territories Regional Support Team based in Miami, has funded trainers from the United Kingdom to deliver the first ever formal training in restorative justice techniques to a number of Anguilla’s prison and probation staff. The programme was organised locally by Shariffa Wallace from HM Prison and Jocelyn Johnson from the Department of Probation.
Restorative justice is the process which brings together those harmed by crime, with those responsible for committing the crime. Those who have been affected have a chance to explain to offenders the real impact of their actions. They are able to get answers to their questions and to receive an apology. It holds offenders to account for what they have done, and helps them to understand the real impact of their actions on others, to take responsibility and to seek to make amends.
There is increasing evidence that restorative justice activity can result in improved victim satisfaction and reduced reoffending. A recent research study in the UK found that over half the victims involved in the face to face victim-offender meetings said the process had provided them with a sense of closure, and 20% saying it had done so to some extent. Overall, this evaluation found that 85% of victims who participated in the restorative process said they were very satisfied with the experience. 27% fewer crimes were committed by offenders who had experienced restorative conferencing, compared with those offenders who did not. It is estimated that restorative justice approaches save nine times what they cost to deliver by reducing future reoffending.
Over the 10-day period of their visit to Anguilla, Restorative Solutions trainers Tony and Katherine Walker successfully accredited selected staff to facilitate meetings between victims and offenders and assisted with preparations for those first meetings. Both Tony and Katherine have in depth and wide ranging experience gained through their former careers (Tony as a senior police officer and Katherine as senior prison manager) and lately as experienced restorative justice trainers and practitioners. In addition to training local officials, the group was joined by the Chief Magistrate from Montserrat, a Magistrate from Bermuda, 3 senior officials from the Cayman Islands and the Rehabilitation Manager from the prison in the Virgin Islands.
Tony stated, “This was one of the most engaging and enjoyable training events we have ever had the privilege to be involved with. We were not only discussing restorative practice or delivering training, but were actively engaging in how to implement the process in prisons and Probation Services on five different Islands, with everyone involved having unprecedented enthusiasm and open mindedness”.
The training concluded with a formal ceremony to highlight the significance and importance of the introduction of these approaches in Anguilla. Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, Permanent Secretary for Health and Social Development, presented certificates and congratulated all the participants on the successful completion of the course.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
