The Chard & Ilminster Community Justice Panel

A restorative justice program in the community by which select police cases are heard and handled right in the community to restore the community. Compared with the 70% reoffending rate of traditional methods of justice, only 5% of those taking part reoffend.

Who's involved?

Police, Community Justice Panel, offenders, victims and their supporters

Who is it aimed at?

Offenders within the community who have committed acts or crimes that are reparable by restorative justice.

How does it work?

When a perpetrator is caught he or she is given the choice of taking the normal court route or signing an admission of guilt which is then handed over to the panel. The offender and victim, as well as the victim's supporters, are then referred to the panel. They then have a mediated session together where both are asked questions. The offender is asked questions such as "What happened?" and "Who do you think has been affected by your actions?" The victim questions include, "How do you feel about what happened?" and "What has been the hardest thing for you?" The offender than apologizes and means of repairing the damage done are discussed. According to Constable William Geddes, of the Chard Police, they refer cases "from violent assaults to mindless criminal damage to persons who've been drunk and disorderly and have caused harassment or alarm. Also neighbour disputes." The idea for the CICJP came from the closing of many rural courts. Cases from the town were sent to courts far away and the residents of the town were never aware of the outcomes. The idea to serve justice themselves was born and they decided to hold their own cases in a way to repair the community. Funding has come from the Home Office and the panel has just been granted funding for another year.

Does it work?

Many residents are happy with the outcomes. They feel that a stronger bond and connection with the police has resulted from this panel and its actions. Compared with the 70% reoffending rate of traditional methods of justice, the panel has found a 95% success rate. This project cost only £53,000 for the year while other projects can cost around £6,000,000.

Case study

The panel's first case involved a man who drove too fast past the local Speed Watch-volunteers who register the speed of cars going by with a radar gun and report it to police. The driver got out of his car and violently threatened the speed watchers; they called the police, who came to the scene.
"The people involved all knew each other-went to the same church and pub," said Keitch. "Word of the incident spread throughout the community and divided it." The police called Keitch, thinking this would be a good first case for the CICJP.
Keitch visited the offender first, and all the reasons for his behavior came out. A retired police officer who'd spent 30 years as a London cop, he was devastated by the way he'd behaved. He and the victims agreed to come to a panel.
"At first it was very painful for everyone, but then the man told them everything, and the whole mood changed. All the victims wanted was an apology, and to know his behavior wasn't personal. He couldn't apologize enough. At the end, they asked him if he wanted to meet for a drink. Eventually they asked him to join the Speed Watch team, and he did. They became firm friends." (from www.iirp.org)