AUTHORS
Angel et al. (2014)
STUDY OBJECTIVE
This study examined the impact of face-to-face restorative justice conference meetings led by police officers between crime victims and their offenders on victims' post-traumatic stress symptoms. The study took place in London and had 192 victims.
TREATMENT
Burglary or robbery cases with consenting victims and offenders were randomly assigned to a face-to-face restorative justice conference in addition to conventional justice treatment. In these conferences, a specially trained facilitator assembles crime victims, their offenders, and their respective friends and family to discuss the crime and the harm it caused. This is meant to reduce desire for revenge and increase satisfaction with the justice system.
CONTROL
Burglary or robbery cases were assigned to a traditional criminal justice process through courts without a restorative justice conference.
MAIN RESULTS
Indicators measuring Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms were significantly lower among victims assigned to the restorative justice meetings in addition to the criminal justice processing through courts than victims who were assigned to the criminal justice processing alone. The results are from a short-term follow up. However, it should be necessary to consider whether the willingness to consent to this type of treatment could bias results.
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