Earlier this year a programme produced for the national radio station for prisoners, National Prison Radio, received a coveted Gold Sony Radio Academy Award.
Now, BBC Radio 4 has introduced a revisited version of this groundbreaking programme, produced by Marianne Garvey, and brought it to a national audience last night.
The views of victims can sometimes be overlooked in the criminal justice system. In ‘The Victim’s Voice’, which aired at 8.00 pm, psychologist Professor Tanya Byron invited a group of victims of violent crime into Brixton Prison to come face-to-face with men serving sentences for committing similarly violent acts.
With brutal honesty, Ray, Vi and Michelle – who have all lost loved-ones to serious crimes – talked directly to the prisoners, challenging them to look at the impact of their own actions.
Restorative justice – as this process is commonly known – is a relatively new approach to dealing with the harm done by crime. It aims to facilitate communication between victims and perpetrators, encouraging understanding, empathy and changes in behaviour.
Increasing the use of restorative justice
Speaking about the programme, prisons minister Crispin Blunt commented: “We are working to increase the use of restorative justice so more victims can have the opportunity to explain the impact of crime on their lives. With the benefit of over GB pound 1 million of new money to train staff and volunteers in probation trusts, prisons and youth offending teams we are helping to ensure more of these initiatives are available for victims who want them.”
According to the Ministry of Justice, research suggests that the majority of victims – around 85% of them, in fact – who participate in restorative justice schemes feel they have benefited from the experience.
It can also play an effective role in reducing reoffending by making criminals see for themselves the consequences of their actions such that they then determine to make amends in the future.
Listen to the programme in full by accessing the BBC Radio 4 website. The 30-minute podcast is available to view for the next six days..
