Victims & Restorative Justice > Reparation

What is Reparation?

Young offenders are often asked to complete some hours of reparation as part of their work with the Youth Offending Team (YJS). Reparation is a key element of Restorative Justice, which works to resolve conflict and repair harm. It encourages those who have caused harm to acknowledge the impact of what they have done and gives them an opportunity to make amends. It also offers those who have suffered harm the opportunity to have their harm or loss acknowledged.

Within the Youth Justice system Reparation has two main aims:

1. To enable young people to make up for what they have done by helping them to give something back either directly to their victim or indirectly to the local community.
   

2. To give young people the chance to do something positive, hopefully giving them new skills and confidence.

What does it involve?

Ideally the young person should do something to benefit the victim of their offence or people who have suffered from similar offences. However, this is not always possible so we also have other projects and opportunities for young people to contribute to something that benefits the local community or a charity.

The number of hours young people have to complete varies from four to thirty depending on the circumstances. One reparation session will usually last up to a maximum of 4 hours.

What is expected of young people?

Young people must attend on time and behave in a respectful and sensible manner whilst on reparation. They must also do what is asked to the best of their ability. If they do not they may have to go back to Court.

What young people can expect from the YJS?

All the equipment that is needed for the project will be provided, including safety equipment. Young people are also covered by North Yorkshire County Council’s insurance whilst on reparation and under the supervision of the YJS.

Examples of current reparation projects:

• Bilton Conservation Group (Harrogate): young people help to put up bird boxes, plant trees and re-install vandalised footpath way markers enabling them to improve the local area and helping them to learn about conservation.
  

• 'Spot On' (Disability Action Yorkshire) (Harrogate): a charity which employs adults with physical and learning disabilities to help package up products for larger businesses. Young people work alongside the adults enabling them to learn more about tolerance and understanding of those with different abilities.
  

• Street Scene (Northallerton): young people assist the Hambleton Street Scene team to tidy up towns in the Hambleton District helping them to take more pride in their local area.
  

• Scarborough Borough Council: young people help to litter pick Peasholm Park on a monthly basis, working alongside members of the public. This helps maintain the cleanliness of the park benefitting the Scarborough community.
  

• St. Catherine's Hospice (Scarborough): young people help prepare food, make cakes, wash dishes, bake bread etc to feed the residents, staff and visitors of the hospice. This helps the hospice enormously as they rely heavily on help from volunteers. The young people work alongside paid members of staff at the hospice and volunteers from the local community.
  

• Beach Cleans (Scarborough): young people clean a particular area of beach on a monthly basis, recording the data of all items found which is sent onto the Marine Conservation Society for their records. This is then used to determine Britain’s Cleanest Beach.

Case Studies

Case Study 1
David was sentenced to a 24 hour Reparation Order for theft. Direct reparation was declined by the victim so David instead spent his hours helping the local council to tidy up his town. David admits although he did not like the work it has deterred him from getting into more trouble and that he did feel like he was “giving something back” to the local community. The Council was really pleased with David’s contribution and hope it has given him a “sense of pride” in his community.

Case Study 2
Nathan was sentenced to a 12 hour Reparation Order for a Criminal Damage Charge. As there was no direct victim, Nathan spent 12 hours helping out at the local hospice. He prepared food for the patients, staff and visitors there and helped with washing up and general kitchen tasks. He thoroughly enjoyed the work and has since developed a keen interest in catering and hopes to go to college in the future. The hospice was really pleased with Nathan’s work and said he had worked hard with much enthusiasm.