Plans for criminals to meet victims before release

RADICAL plans for criminals to meet their victims before being released from jail were welcomed last night by prison reform supporters.

Officials from the judiciary, probation service, the Director of Public Prosecutions and a senior garda, recommended that prisoners meet those affected by their crime in a bid to stop them re-offending.

Gardaí already run restorative programmes for offending teenagers nationwide where mediation is held between youths and victims.