We’ll support establishment of restorative justice centres – FG

The federal government has again reiterated its resolve to support the establishment of Restorative Justice Centres in the country.

The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, gave the hint Thursday in Abuja at the validation session of Restorative Justice Documents; the Policy, Bill, Practice Direction, and Training manual.

The programme organised by the Ministry of Justice was 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 said there is the need to support government policies towards reforming the criminal justice system, through developing 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 said.

Jedy-Agba added 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.