The focus of the two years project was on developing minimum standards on the use of RJ in domestic violence cases. It started with the following questions: Can Restorative Justice (RJ) be a solution in cases of domestic violence and if so, under what circumstances? This project seeks to fill research gaps, pull together existing knowledge and to gain a better understanding of the risks and potentialities of using restorative justice in cases of ‘intimate partner violence’. A comparative report on the legal and policy context and practice of restorative justice in general and in cases of domestic violence in particular has been written in 2014 and resulted in a first publication of this European project. In the second comparative report that is almost finalised we focus on the experiences, expectations and needs of victims and offenders who have been involved in an RJ intervention after violence, often a VOM. The final product of the project will be a guide that provides minimum standards for the use of RJ in cases of domestic violence. The research shows that the use of restorative justice in IPV cases is happening in Europe and in the countries involved in this study. However, there is significant diversity in practice at the local level.
There are some common problems and fears mentioned in the comparative report like the importance of a robust preparation phase, safety as an overall point of concern and the importance of after care. In all six countries legal and social measures are in place to tackle IPV and VOM has taken a role in this area too.
Please find out more information and how to register to this event on the European Forum for Restorative Justice website at www.euforumrj.org.