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Crime, Community and Justice

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Quakers have worked for centuries to improve the criminal justice system and we tend to be both practical and optimistic.

Recognising that often the needs of the victim of crime tend to be ignored and the offender is punished without reference to the victim, we promote restorative justice approaches amongst Quakers and others, trying to keep all those who are harmed by crime at the centre of processes and criminal justice systems.

Learning from experience

A custodial or community sentence affects many more people than the person who has been convicted: their family and friends; the victim and their family and friends; the wider community. Crime, Community and Justice Group (CCJG) believe that a better understanding of the consequences of the use of custodial and community sentences will encourage a search for less damaging and more constructive responses. 

To do this CCJG are embarking on a new piece of work to find out what actually happened – or may still be happening – to individuals affected when someone receives a prison or community sentence. CCJG want to know the practical and emotional effect,  the worst thing about the experience, whether there was anything positive about it, and if something or someone could or did make things better.  Friends throughout the country are being asked to participate by contributing and collecting stories directly from anyone affected in this way. 

Bowed head against sky

What CCJG learns from these personal narratives will be used in a variety of ways, working within the Framework for Action 2009-2014. It will help to identify gaps and opportunities for improvements in the criminal justice system, to inform and support Friends in their activities, and to help us work better with others campaigning for change. 

Justice should be compassionate, forgiving and healing – restorative, not retributive. We want to change attitudes and encourage the criminal justice system to move towards this vision of justice.
Crime, Community and Justice Group, 2009

Restorative Justice

Among the strongest reasons for Quaker interest in restorative justice are the possibilities of healing for victims, offenders and the community; and of recognising apology, forgiveness and reconciliation as part of that healing.

Most victims want recognition of the harm done to them, restitution from the offender, and a commitment that further crime will not be perpetrated by the offender. Evidence is very strong that the proportion of victims wanting restorative justice processes when they are available is very high, and their satisfaction with its outcomes is considerable.

It can be – indeed is often – a powerful experience for the perpetrator which leads many to accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions and allows them to make positive changes.

“Restorative justice seeks to balance the concerns of the victim and the community with the need to reintegrate the offender into society. It seeks to assist the recovery of the victim and enable all parties with a stake in the justice process to participate fruitfully in it.”
Restorative Justice Consortium

Security computer in a prison. Credit: Charles Milligan/QHT
Security computer in a prison. Credit: Charles Milligan/QHT

More information

Crime, Community and Justice Group:

  • works ecumenically through the Churches' Criminal Justice Forum (a network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland)
  • works with specialist bodies and networks such as the Restorative Justice Consortium and Criminal Justice Alliance and Quakers in Criminal Justice
  • communicates Quaker concerns to government and other policy makers, consistently expressing our strong belief that restorative justice should be at the heart of the criminal justice system
  • encourages and supports local Quaker action through the CCJG Activity Group Network
  • is a member of the Women in Prison research project with Quaker United Nations Office Geneva, Quaker Council for European Affairs, and Friends World Committee for Consultation

Get involved

Visit: 

 
 
 
 
Learning from Experience: Personal narratives from the criminal justice system:  We are asking Friends throughout the country to participate by contributing and collecting stories directly from anyone affected by a criminal sentence. You don’t have to be involved in any way with the criminal justice system: you may know someone where you work or live or meet socially who has a story to tell. Our pack gives full details, including guidelines for being involved in this work. 

“What Can I Do? Volunteering in the criminal justice system”. England & Wales and Scotland. Available from QPSW 

Local Activity Group Activities – CCJG briefing on some of the things activity groups do, with some contacts to help you do them. 

Support this work with a donation.  

Contact 

Paula Harvey
QPSW, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ 
020 7663 1036
paulah@quaker.org.uk

Quaker Peace & Social Witness works with, and on behalf of, the Religious Society of Friends in Britain to translate our faith into action. As Quakers we are impelled by our faith to make our lives an active witness for peace and justice. Our historic testimonies to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenge us to alleviate suffering and seek positive social change.

Crime, Community and Justice Group (CCJG) is part of Britain Yearly Meeting’s centrally managed work in Quaker Peace & Social Witness.Their work is concerned with the state criminal justice system and how to build community, and to support Friends’ witness in relation to both. 
June 2009