Restorative justice and mental health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experience and impact of restorative justice on victims and patients in forensic mental health settings
IRAS ID
341347
Contact name
Gerard Drennan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomon's Institute of Applied Psychology
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 2 days
Research summary
Restorative justice (RJ) is a process where the person who committed a wrong, the victim, and the community come together to talk about the harm done and find ways to repair the damage. The goal is to promote understanding, accountability, and healing for everyone involved, rather than just punishing the wrongdoer. It focuses on making things right and improving relationships. Restorative justice is becoming more popular because it has been shown to help reduce repeat offenses and improve mental health. RJ focuses on repairing relationships between the victim, the person who committed the crime, and the community, promoting cooperation and problem-solving. Using RJ in mental health settings offers financial benefits because it not only helps offenders rejoin society but also helps victims feel safe and return to work. However, more research is needed to make sure RJ is used correctly, especially for people with mental health issues, to avoid causing harm.
Other studies have looked at what motivates people to take part in RJ, how they feel about the process, and whether it works in mental health settings, but they didn’t consider things like age, gender, or background. This project will focus on how social skills influence people’s willingness to engage in and benefit from RJ in mental health settings. The goal is to improve the process and make it more inclusive. The study will last a year, and participants will discuss their experiences with RJ, including questions about social skills and fairness. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/WM/0031
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion