FG backs calls for establishment of Restorative Justice Centres

The Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, has supported stakeholders’ calls for the establishment of Restorative Justice Centres in the country.
Jedy-Agba said this at the Validation Session of Restorative Justice Documents; the Policy, Bill, Practice Direction, and Training Manual on Thursday in Abuja.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Justice and sponsored by UNODC.
“These centres will run as forms of alternative dispute resolution and will be deployed as tools for decongesting many of the less serious cases in the docket of the courts.
“This will invariably decrease the overcrowded correctional centres.
“It is proposed that the centres will receive referrals from the police, courts and prosecutors to settle some criminal matters amicably.’’
She called for support for government policies towards reforming the criminal justice system, through restorative justice mechanisms.
“The criminal justice system faces tremendous challenges, ranging from recidivism, prolonged duration for trials, overcrowded custodial centres and the failure of punishment for offences to meet with standards of justice for the victims and survivors of crime.
“These challenges are addressed through restorative justice mechanisms, with the overall objective of improving the criminal justice system.”
She explained that restorative justice is an evolving approach to justice that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and the perpetrators to communicate and address needs in the aftermath of a crime.
“It gives offenders an opportunity to make amends and to try to correct some of their wrongs and hurt which they may have caused to their victims.
“It is also an innovative approach that has been known to reduce re-offending rates by making the offenders face the consequences of their action.’’(NAN)