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Victims and the Criminal Trial pp 85–123Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Alternative Pathways: Restoration, Intervention and Community Justice

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Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Victims and Victimology ((PSVV))

Abstract

The emergence of alternative pathways to justice, especially for offences heard in lower courts constituted by a magistrate, has been an instrumental development relocating the victim into the criminal trial process. This chapter will trace those developments, which have provided victims a role in restorative processes that now replace the trial altogether, or substitute for custodial or more onerous non-custodial terms, in the sentencing process. The procedural aspects of pre- and post-sentence intervention demonstrate how the availability of restorative programs across various phases of the traditional criminal trial process modify how we understand proceedings in the local and Magistrates’ courts. Although certain sex, firearm, or especially violent offences may be excluded, depending on jurisdiction, most public order, property, motor vehicle, or offences of interpersonal violence are included.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Restorative interventions including those that involve the victim directly are explicitly recognised under the Sentencing Act 2002 (NZ) s 10(4): ‘Without limiting any other powers of a court to adjourn, in any case contemplated by this section a court may adjourn the proceedings until: (a) compensation has been paid; or (b) the performance of any work or service has been completed; or (c) any agreement between the victim and the offender has been fulfilled; or (d) any measure proposed under subsection (1)(d) has been completed; or (e) any remedial action referred to in subsection (1)(e) has been completed.’

  2. 2.

    Also see Criminal Justice Act 2003 (UK) Sch 23.

  3. 3.

    See contra. Evaluation of the NSW Domestic Violence Intervention Court Model. Birdsey and Smith (2012) indicate that some but not all objectives of the court mode were reached.

  4. 4.

    For comparison, see recent amendments to the current scheme for youth referral in England and Wales under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (UK) ss 41–45. The Explanatory Notes indicate ‘The offender must agree with the panel a contract of rehabilitative and restorative elements to be completed within the sentence. Where the victim and the offender consent, the panel can be used to deliver a restorative justice conference. A restorative justice conference offers victims the opportunity to be heard and to have a say in the resolution of offences, including agreeing restorative or reparative activity for the young offender.’ (Stationary Office 2015: 53).

  5. 5.

    Participation in Forum Sentencing in NSW is available for adult offenders in Local Courts, where the court considers a conviction is likely and the offender will be required to otherwise serve a sentence of imprisonment (which may be suspended), an intensive correction order or home detention, perform community service work, or enter into a good behaviour bond. Eligible offences include: common assault; break and enter; malicious damage; drink driving; theft (shoplifting, possess stolen property, steal from employer); and fraud.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Law, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Tyrone Kirchengast

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  1. Tyrone Kirchengast
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Kirchengast, T. (2016). Alternative Pathways: Restoration, Intervention and Community Justice. In: Victims and the Criminal Trial. Palgrave Studies in Victims and Victimology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51000-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51000-6_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-50999-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-51000-6

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