Restorative justice

Restorative justice gives the opportunity for people harmed by a crime and the people responsible for the harm to share how the crime has affected them. It lets everyone involved play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.

The communication can be a face-to-face meeting or a letter, recorded audio interview or video.

All victims of crime can seek restorative justice but the process will only take place if both victim and offender want it to.

Restorative justice is completely voluntary for all those taking part. Trained facilitators assess risks and make sure that the process is safe for everybody involved.

Restorative justice is used for any type of crime and at any stage of the criminal justice process, including if the offender is serving a prison sentence.

For more information visit the Restorative Justice Council.

Benefits of restorative justice

Restorative justice gives a victim the opportunity to explain the impact of the harm caused, through safe communication with support and encouragement from trained facilitators. They can explain how it made them feel, describe the consequences, ask questions, receive an explanation and seek an apology if they wish.

The process can empower and help victims recover from the incident and participation in restorative justice has no influence on the sentence an offender may receive.

Offenders have the chance to take responsibility for their actions, offer an explanation, and take steps to repair the harm. It can help them understand how their actions have affected victims and their families. 

Research shows that restorative justice also leads to a reduction in reoffending.

Surrey's restorative justice hub

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner leads on the restorative justice scheme in Surrey and has set up a restorative justice hub.

The hub provides victims and agencies with a point of contact to access support and information.

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner supports and works with all the key criminal justice agencies including Surrey Police, victim support services, the National Probation Service and prisons too.

How to apply for restorative justice

In suitable cases, and where people want to proceed with a restorative process, the hub can make sure that cases are allocated to professionally trained restorative justice facilitators.

You can apply either for yourself or on behalf of someone else via the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner's website.

Any contact will be directly with the PCC’s office. You will find a restorative justice referral form and a contact form on the site.

If you would like to find out more about restorative justice and our services, please contact the hub.