Using Restorative Conferencing for Healing of Victims and Offenders in New South Wales
The Restorative Justice Unit of the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services was established in 1999. It offers conferencing after the offender is in the custody of the Department. In the attached article, Kate Milner, manager of the Unit, provides an overview of its work with victim offender conferencing and of a new re-entry initiative.
The Restorative Justice Unit (Unit) was established in the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services in 1999. Unlike other conferencing schemes in New South Wales, the Unit's conferences take place after sentencing. While it may address ways the harm of the offence might be reduced, its primary purpose is to address unresolved conflict between the victim and offender.
Using carefully developed procedures for screening, preparing for and conducting these conferences, the Unit has addressed the aftermath of serious crimes of violence, including murder.
In the attached article, Kate Milner, Manager of the Unit, describes its work and presents several case examples to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Kate Milner and the Restorative Justice Unit team can be contacted via email at restorative.justice@dcs.nsw.gov.auOctober 2006
