One-third of young offenders in unique initiative re-offend

MORE than one-third of young offenders, involved in a unique initiative aimed at easing them away from a life of crime and certain jail, re-offended, one within four days of coming face-to-face with the victim of an earlier offence.

But a report into the Garda restorative justice programme reveals the vast majority of victims, after meeting those who committed crimes against them, showed a remarkable ability to forgive, with some offering support and many claiming they could see the offender’s point of view. Despite the one-third re-offending rate, gardaí charged with steering children away from crime are said to be largely encouraged by the initiative, set up on a pilot basis from 1999 and on a statutory footing from May last year.

More than 150 young offenders have taken part in restorative justice conferences, the majority of them involving victims. Juvenile liaison officers choose those cases where both victim and offender are likely to benefit.