Inside‘n

’ ou

t

Issue 13 June 2012

Welcome to the 13th issue of Inside ‘n’ Out Magazine which is now supported by 14 Probation Trusts and 24 Prisons.

In this issue we are focusing on Restorative Justice but we have introduced some humour with our new regular feature,

You’ve Got To Be Joking!We have recently received some valuable feedback from

Insidetime and will be making a few changes in the next issue.

We are actively seeking articles, artwork, cover designs, poems, jokes, cartoons and letters.

Anything will be gratefully received. We are also looking for any feedback on what you like or dislike about the magazine. This is your chance to express yourselves and show off your

creative talents.

Editor’s First Words

The Team Editor

Mark Clark

Proof Readers Charlotte Pattison-Rideout

David Roberts

Layout & Design Will Hall

Marketing Tomorrow Together

Sharon McAsey Leicester City Libraries

Contact Inside ‘n’ Out

C/O Zinthiya Trust, St Martins House,

Peacock Lane, Leicester. LE1 5PZ

Tel: 0116 2626549

Mobile: 07762695983

E-mail: editor@inomag.org.uk

CONTENTS 4

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Spotlight on; restorative justice

Prison fellowshipSycamore tree

Victim Support - Restorative Justice

RestorativeThinking Toolkit

You’ve Got To Be Joking!

Poetry Corner

Puzzles Galore

puzzles galore

Restorative Justice Initiative Midlands is a charity and social enterprise which offers services in victim offender mediation, offender reintegration, Restorative Justice and Criminal Justice Training.

Restorative Justice Initiative Midlands recognizes that when

a crime is committed, it affects victims, offenders and their communities.

Often, offenders are afraid that victims and their families will seek revenge for the crimes committed against them, that they will be rejected by their friends, families and communities, and that they will forever be associated with

Offenders and Restorative Justice

Spotlight on Restorative Justice

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their criminal past. Restorative Justice offers an opportunity in which offenders can formally apologise to their victim(s), helping both the victim and them selfs heal. It also allows victims to share the impact of their victimisation with their offenders. The process reduces the fear of re-victimisation and reduces the fear of revenge attacks and labelling when offenders are released.

Restorative Justice offers a starting point for victim, offender and community restoration. Many offenders who have taken part in restorative justice mediation express great satisfaction over being able to pay back their victims and communities and over being heard, and being treated with respect. The process ensures that offenders take responsibility for their actions and show remorse which aid in their reintegration back into the community after release. They also indicate that Restorative Justice helped them in

their rehabilitation and in their reintegration into the community after release.

Restorative Justice conference/meeting is facilitated by well-trained practitioners who respect all parties involved and who

adopt a non-judgemental approach. Restorative

Justice Initiative Midlands has

been endorsed by several community stakeholders and strives to provide

a service that will facilitate positive

and life changing experiences.

Offenders and ex-offenders who would like to meet their victims to make amends are welcome to contact us at:

Restorative Justice

allows offenders to apologise to their victim, helping both

the victim and themselves heal.

RestorativeJustice Initiative MidlandsHome Farm CentreLeicester. LE4 0SU

0116 222 2629

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By Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support

Victim Support hasn’t always been a fan of restorative justice. In the early days it was often approached just with the offender in mind, with reluctant victims being drawn into the process and their needs overlooked. But things have come a long way, to the extent that we’re now not only involved in several local RJ projects but even calling for it to be available for more victims and in prisons.

So why the apparent u-turn? Well we’ve seen first hand how victims have benefitted from restorative justice conferencing - where victims and their support workers meet with offenders and those who work with them to talk about the crime. Crucially, we’ve seen

how this process gives victims a chance to do something the justice system often can’t – to give them direct answers to questions about the crime, to let the offender know the effects of their actions, and to get an apology.

Javed Khan, Chief Executive

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Alongside our own experience, we also now know that more than eight out of ten victims who take part in restorative justice conferencing are satisified with the process according to government research. Half of victims say restorative justice has given them a feeling of closure. There are also benefits for cutting reoffending with the same research showing falls of between 14 - 27% over seven years.

All of this means greater public confidence, more victims willing to get involved in the justice process and ultimately safer society. Restorative justice could also save millions of pounds for the public purse through reducing reoffending - hard to ignore in these challenging financial times.

But despite our new-found enthusiasm for restorative justice we still maintain that high standards and safeguards for victims are vital, along with flexibility to deal with the different needs and experiences that each victim will have. But done properly, and with unfamiliar victims approached in

To get help now contact our Victim Supportline;

0845 30 30 900 or via email;

supportline@victimsupport.org.uk

East Midlands regional office

Alliance House6 Bishop Street

LeicesterLE1 6AF

Tel: 0116 249 3302

the right way, restorative justice could breathe new life into the justice system.

We now confidently say that every victim who wants restorative justice should be able to take part at any stage in the criminal justice journey so long as the offender accepts responsibility and is a willing participant too. Handled right, restorative justice can help both victims and offenders reach a level of understanding that can transform both their lives.

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This is a story of how Restorative Justice helped a Sycamore Tree learner to turn her life around:

Before prison, whilst in active addiction, I did have an awareness of my wrong doing and the direct people it affected. I carried a lot of guilt, though I always justified my actions and took more drugs to push away those thoughts and feelings. I never knew how to break free.

Whilst in prison I was encouraged to do the Sycamore Tree course by friends who had already completed it, they said it would be good for me. During the course, to represent the effect that crime has, there was a bowl of water on the floor which was calm and still. Then an orange was thrown into the bowl. How it disturbed the water, what a mess it made! That shocked me, at that moment something inside of me broke

Sycamore TreeRestorative Justice / Victim Awareness programme

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- reality - the message had got through.

For the final session I was asked to write a letter to say sorry for my wrongdoing and read it out. This was hard but the volunteers and Chaplaincy team were very supportive. This gave me an opportunity to express myself, to say sorry to God (which was important to me - He knew what was in my heart) and to others on behalf of my victims. I took responsibility and this gave me a release from my guilt.

For me it was not about the certificate, it was about the change within me – a valuable experience. The course has equipped me with the values for how I live today; I learnt the importance of paying back what I owe and making amends. I am so glad I listened and attended the course. I thank God for the good work He does for His forgiveness.

I now live in my own flat, drug free and crime free. I am working and studying at college. I have paid and am paying back any debt I owe, I’m making amends. I attend a great church, I have a support network, and I have good friends. God has broken the chains of my past and changed my life and me. He has reconciled me with my family and is restoring all that was lost.

If you are a serving prisoner and are interested in the Sycamore Tree Programme, speak to the Prison Chaplain.

Prison Fellowship England & Wales

PO Box 68226London

SW1P 9WR

(T) 020 7799 2500

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Restorative Thinking: A Restorative Justice Interactive Toolkit for Working with OffendersRestorative Thinking: A Restorative Justice Interactive Toolkit for Working with Offenders is being used in Prisons and Probation Local Delivery Units to deliver Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices with offenders and ex-offenders. The toolkit, which provides facilitators with a framework and resources for delivering Restorative Practices, is effective with both groups and individuals in prison and probation settings.

Restorative Thinking provides an engaging forum through which to explore what Restorative Justice is and how it can work; it is a really good preparatory tool for offenders who will meet their direct victim/s through a restorative conference, and as such supports the sustainability of current opportunities for Prisons and Probation Trusts to train staff as restorative conference facilitators. The toolkit is also being used to support peer mediation, with participants delivering parts of the toolkit with other participants.

The toolkit supports Prisons and Probation Units that have limited RJ capacity, in addition to those that have a ‘whole-Prison/Probation Unit

approach’ to Restorative Justice.

The Restorative Thinking Toolkit includes visual, auditory and kinaesthetic resources and activities to engage all learning styles.

Restorative Thinking is an excellent way of introducing and/or consolidating what Restorative Justice ‘looks like’, and how to adopt restorative thinking and restorative practices. The case studies included

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in the toolkit allow participants to suggest ways that others might handle conflict resolution, whilst enabling participants to become familiar and comfortable with restorative language and thinking processes. The final session brings Restorative Justice back to the self, and asks participants to apply what they have learnt about Restorative Justice to their own past offences, before looking forward to identify how Restorative Practices can be adopted in future conflict situations.

In prison settings, the final session can be delivered with individuals working with their Probation Officer and/or Offender Supervisor. The content of this final session can be used to inform the participant’s Sentence Plan.

This toolkit has been written and developed with Prisons and Probation Trusts.

For further information, please contact Lesley Parkinson: Lesley@

restorativethinking.co.uk

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You’ve got to be joking!Give us a laugh - send us your funniest stories & jokes

Late one night, an alien spacecraft landed near a deserted petrol station. One of the aliens came down the ramp, looked around, and walked over to one of the petrol pumps.

He demanded: ‘‘Earthling! Take me to your leader!’’ The petrol pump did not reply. Then the alien became agitated and again demanded, ‘‘Take me to your leader!’’

The petrol pump remained silent.

Frustrated, the alien went back to the spacecraft where he was confronted by the Captain.

‘‘Report what you have found out about the earthlings,’’ demanded the captain.

‘‘I contacted an earthling, but he would not co-operate.’’

‘‘I will deal with this earthling myself,’’ said the captain.

‘‘Yes sir. Be careful, sir, I have a feeling there could be trouble.’’

The captain left the ship and approached the petrol pump.

‘‘Earthling, you will co-operate. Take me to your leader.’’

The petrol pump remained unresponsive.

‘Very well!’’ The captain drew his blaster. ‘‘If you do not respond by the count of three, I shall be forced to fire on you! One. Two. Three.’’

ZZZZT: WHAM! The petrol pump exploded, knocking the alien over. The captain jumped up and got back to the ship as fast as he could.

‘‘Quickly! Make ready to depart!’’

‘‘Yes sir. What happened sir?’’

‘‘I fired on the earthling and it responded very forcefully.’’

‘‘Sorry sir, I was afraid that might happen.’’

‘‘How did you know that there would be trouble?’’

‘‘Well sir, I assumed that anyone who can take his d**k, wrap it around his feet and stick it in his left ear is probably going to be one bad b*****d.’’

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To all the people who have been hurt by me

As I watch the smile drain from youThe tears run down your face

The heartache there is clear to seeAnd all because of me.

The painThe hurt

The sorrow caused and why?Because of me.

No excuse can there beNo thoughts of you were there for me

I was too blind to seeIt all comes back to me.

Now in the darkness, alone at nightThe tears I cry, the heartaches ripe

So much lostAnd all because of me.

It's time to turn life aroundWork hard to put things right

Saying sorry’s not enoughI have to show it's right.

A promise here I give you nowIs to always think of youTo rebuild relationshipsJust make our life anew.

And that will be because of me!

www.prisonfellowship.org.uk

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Poetry Corner

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puzzles galore

Restorative Justice Sorry Heal Victim Apologise Sycamore Tree Rebuild Listen

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SudokuFeel free to scribble

here

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Supported byG.E Ellis Foundation

25 Prisons & 16 Probation Trusts