Restorative justice for people who have been harmed

If you’ve been impacted by crime, you may want to move on with your life. If you are struggling to get a sense of justice or closure, restorative justice may help.

Restorative justice gives you the opportunity to talk about what happened and the impact the crime has had on your life.

A restorative justice conference may help you find closure if:

• you have questions about what happened to you
• you want to tell the person who harmed you about the impact their behaviour has had on your life
• you want to talk about the relationship—if the person who harmed you is a friend, relative or romantic partner.

Through this process, you can have your voice heard and be actively involved in repairing the harm. It may help you move on with your life.

Restorative justice conferences

A restorative justice conference is a voluntary meeting between you and the person who harmed you. It provides a safe and supportive space to talk about what happened.

Learn more about adult restorative justice conferences, including what they are and who can attend.

At an adult restorative justice conference, you can:

• tell your story in your own words, in your own way
• tell the person who has caused the harm how their behaviour affected you
• ask questions about the incident
• express your feelings, with support from family or friends
• reduce any fears of future harm
• receive an apology from the person who harmed you
• make an agreement about how to repair that harm
• get some closure.

We understand that choosing to talk with the person who hurt you is a big decision. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to, and you can change your mind at any time.

Support person

We encourage you to bring a support person to a conference. This can help you feel reassured and comfortable, before, during and after the conference. Having them with you can also help them understand what you’ve been through.

Support people are invited to speak about how they have been impacted. This can help the person who has caused harm to understand that their actions have affected more than one person.

Conferences don’t have to be face-to-face

You can send a representative or provide a victim impact statement instead of meeting face-to-face. You and the person responsible can talk through letters or emails facilitated by the convenor.

Before the conference

The convenor will meet with you to hear your story. They will explain the process and answer your questions. They will also tell you who else can attend the conference.

Talking about what happened can be helpful, but it’s not always necessary. The convenor will talk to you to see what is best for you. The main discussion will focus on the harm that has been done and what is needed to repair the harm (called the outcome).

If you decide to go ahead, the convenor will help you prepare for the conference and think about what outcome you would like to see.

The convenor will meet separately with the person who harmed you. With your permission they will talk to them about what outcome you would like. It’s important the outcomes are clearly understood before the conference begins.

What you can ask them to do to make amends

Everyone’s needs are different. The convenor will help you decide what you need the person responsible to do to make amends for the harm.

The agreed outcome must meet your needs, but it must also be safe, legal, achievable, and fair. It must be achieved within 6 months.

Some common outcomes are:

• an apology
• a payment to acknowledge suffering and/or cover costs
• an agreement to attend counselling or other programs
• a promise that the behaviour will not be repeated
• a donation to charity.

Asking them to pay your costs

You can ask the person who harmed you to pay your costs. They would need to agree to cover them.

You will need proof of your costs, such as receipts, invoices, police reports, etc.

Some common out-of-pocket expenses include:

• medical bills
• counselling sessions
• missed work (must be verified by your employer)
• cost of repairing or replacing damaged property
• replacing money that was stolen.

If they can’t pay

You can contact Victim Assist Queensland (VAQ). VAQ can tell you about support services, victims’ rights and financial assistance. They may be able to help you with your costs.

You can continue with restorative justice if you get help from VAQ.

At the conference

The convenor will guide the conversation.

You can talk about the incident and describe the impact it has had on your life. You might choose to ask the person who harmed you questions. You can talk to the person responsible about what you need from them to help you feel better and move on with your life.

The person responsible for causing harm will also have a chance to talk about what happened. They will answer your questions. They are expected to take responsibility for what they’ve done.

Restorative outcome plan

If you and the person responsible agree on the outcome, you can create a written agreement together.

The agreement is called a Restorative outcome plan. It will outline what has happened in the conference and what the person responsible will do to make amends. The agreement is not legally binding.

Forgiving them is your decision

Restorative justice is about healing and moving forward. You can decide how that happens for you.

After the conference

The convenor will tell the agency that referred you that the conference has taken place. With consent from you and the other person, they will provide the referrer with a copy of the Restorative outcome plan.

The person who harmed you must do what they said they will do. They may need to provide evidence of the things they’ve done.

Once they have done what they agreed to do, the referring agency will be told.

Support services

Victim Assist Queensland

Victim Assist Queensland has information and advice for victims of crime. They can tell you about support services, victims’ rights and financial assistance.

13YARN

13YARN is a national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Yarn with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.

Call 13YARN (13 92 76).

Suicide Call Back Service

Suicide Call Back Service is a free nationwide service providing 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.

Call 1300 659 467.

More information

Learn more about:

• adult restorative justice conferences
• young offenders’ restorative justice conferences
• restorative justice contacts.