Alternatives

A Community Response to a Community Problem

Alternatives has developed out of a two year action research project, which explored the issue of punishment attacks and the operation of the paramilitary informal justice system in the Greater Shankill area. This research involved extensive consultation with all those involved in the justice systems and youth provision. It identified failings in the formal criminal justice system in addressing anti-social behaviour in the Shankill area. It also highlighted the need for a non-violent alternative to punishment attacks, that would be community-owned and based on the principles of restorative justice.

What is Restorative Justice?

Restorative justice is fundamentally a philosophy which encourages people to take a different approach to crime and its' consequences; in other words, to look at the wider picture. Our present criminal justice system is based on the belief that it must be retributive or vengeful, that punishment equals justice. Crime is seen as a crime against the state. It asks questions like: what laws were broken? Who broke them? How should they be punished? In contrast restorative justice sees crime as a breakdown of human relationships, and focuses on healing and repairing the harm caused by crime. It asks questions like: who was harmed? What were their losses? How do we restore their sense of justice?

What is VORP?

There are different approaches used by restorative justice practitioners. Alternatives concentrates on the VORP method of mediation. VORP stands for Victim Offender Reconciliation Programme. This is where a trained community mediator facilitates a face to face meeting between the victim and offender. This encounter allows the opportunity for community, victim, and offender to determine justice together. The possible benefits for each group includes:

For Victims	Victims needs are no longer ignored Victims get the answers to their questions Victims get to tell their story Victims get to participate in the settlement
For Offenders	Offenders face the human cost of their actions Offenders are given the opportunity to make things right Offenders get to tell their story Offenders are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions
For Communtiy	The community is empowered to solve their own problems Community conflict is addressed in a positive way Community becomes more accepting of reformed offenders Community is able to reduce recidivism

The Aims of Greater Shankill Alternatives are:

To work towards the eradication of punishment attacks
To address anti-social behaviour
To provide support and guidance to youth at risk
To promote community discussion about the justice system
To address areas of weakness and failure within the criminal justice system
To heal relationships within the community, and between the communty and statutory agencies.

Services Provided:

Support for young people
Counselling
Mediation
Community awareness and education
Opportunities for volunteering
Drug and alcohol awareness

Alternatives has been developed in co-operation with the following groups and agencies:

Youth workers
Young people
NIACRO (Northern Ireland Ass'n for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders)
Belfast Education and Library Board (youth service)
Probation Board
PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland)
Church leaders
Community activists
Local community and voluntary agencies.

For more information, please contact:

Greater Shankill Alternatives
64 Woodvale Road
Belfast
BT13 3BT

Tel: 028 9031 1420
Fax: 028 9031 1490
e-mail: alternatives@nireland.com

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