Nandor welcomes restorative justice for Nelson
1 May 2001
Nandor welcomes restorative justice for Nelson
Green Party Justice Spokesperson Nandor Tanczos today welcomed news that a face-to-face restorative justice scheme will begin in Nelson over the next few months.
Under the scheme victims will have the ability to meet with offenders to discuss the crime, if they wish, in an effort to allow victims of crime a voice within the judicial process.
"I have championed the merits of restorative justice for a long time because under our current justice system the victims of crime are silenced," said Mr Tanczos.
"Victims have no role to play in the current court process, no ability to confront the offender and usually no opportunity to receive an apology."
Mr Tanczos said the justice system is characterised by the fact that a crime against a person is immediately classed as a crime against the state, with the state seeking retribution regardless of the victims' needs.
"Restorative justice recognises that when a crime is committed a person is hurt and the first priority must be to try to heal that hurt.
"Restorative justice has a huge role to play in making our justice system more responsive, people-centred and, ultimately, more effective. I think this scheme will prove to be very successful in Nelson and I congratulate David Maze and the Nelson Restorative Justice Trust for making this happen."
ENDS