Restorative Justice
The Restorative Justice Working Group was established in 2009. Members of this group draw on their experience working in government agencies, community groups and academia.
See below for recent news in relation to the group's activities and restorative justice developments.
Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)8 concerning Restorative Justice in Criminal Matters - 5th December, 2018
The ACJRD Working Groups Christmas Networking Event took place in the Blue Room of the Law Society of Ireland on Wednesday, 5th December, 2018. This event featured a Restorative Justice Working Group Seminar and was followed by a seasonal networking reception.
Dr. Ian Marder, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, spoke on the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)8 concerning Restorative Justice in Criminal Matters.
Dr. Marder is a Lecturer in Criminology at National University of Ireland, Maynooth. In 2017/18, he acted as Scientific Expert to the Council of Europe's Council for Penological Co-operation, with whom he drafted a new Recommendation concerning restorative justice in criminal matters. Since May 2016, he has also been a Visiting Fellow at the Durham and Darlington Restorative Hub, for which he conducts small research projects on an ad hoc basis. He is also the founder and manager of the Community of Restorative Researchers, a research network open to all persons and organisations involved or interested in restorative justice or restorative practice in any capacity.
Pictured: Dr. Ian Marder at the ACJRD Restorative Justice Working Group Seminar on Wednesday, 5th December, 2018.
A critical overview of Restorative Justice in Ireland today - 12th December 2016
The annual ACJRD Networking Event took place on Monday 12th December, 2016. The evening was an opportunity for ACJRD members and Working Groups to meet those with common interests, to renew acquaintances and share ideas.
Dr. Kieran O’Dwyer spoke at the event, giving 'A critical overview of Restorative Justice in Ireland today'. For a copy of Dr O'Dwyer's slides please click on the title: Dr Kieran O'Dwyer presentation
Dr. O'Dwyer has been active in the field of restorative practice for 17 years, initially in the criminal justice system and latterly also in community settings. He is a practising trainer, facilitator, lecturer and researcher in the area, and the author of several conference papers and book chapters on the topic. His recent contributions include a quality assurance framework for restorative practice, published in 2014, and a co-authored chapter on restorative justice in the Routledge Handbook of Irish Criminology, published in 2016. He is a member of the steering group of Restorative Practices Ireland, a Board member of Restorative Justice Services and a volunteer chair of its offender reparation panels. He completed a PhD degree in University College Dublin by research into the Garda Restorative Justice Programme for young offenders. He was a founding member of ACJRD and a chair of its Restorative Justice working group.
Restorative Justice Articles - Members' suggested reading August 2013
You may be interested in the following articles on restorative Justice which were forwarded by members.
Rehabilitation of Prisoners the culminating feature of Penal Systems
Varied Applications of Restorative Practice 21st January 2013
The ACJRD and ACJRD Restorative Justice Working Group held the seminar 'Varied Applications of Restorative Practice' at 5.30pm on Monday 21st January 2013.
Dr Donna Hicks, Associate at the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs, Harvard University, gave the presentation: Conflict and Dignity - the Lessons for Restorative Justice Practice.
Please see www.declaredignity.com for information or to sign the Declaration of Dignity.
The seminar also featured presentations from:
Austin Stack, Assistant Governor, Wheatfield Prison
Nadette Foley, Facing Forward,
Andy Tuite, Community Relations, Garda Office for Children and Youth Affairs
Seminar Speakers : Sgt Andy Tuite, Nadette Foley, Austin Stack and Dr Donna Hicks during the Q & A session.
Dr Hicks was in Dublin as part of a Boston College, Irish Institute exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. ACJRD are grateful to these organisations for facilitating her trip.
Restorative Justice Seminar 21st November 2012
The ACJRD held the seminar “An update on the Probation Service Restorative Justice Projects” on Wednesday 21st November.
This seminar featured presentations from the following speakers:
Una Doyle, Regional Manager for Probation Service Restorative Justice projects
Peter Keeley, Restorative Justice Services
Emily Sheary, Nenagh Community Reparation Project
Seán Kinahan, Le Chéile, Restorative Justice Project Limerick
Thanks to our speakers and all in attendance who made this such a successful event.
Restorative Justice Commission, Final Report Seminar 13th April 2010
The ACJRD and the Restorative Justice working group, held a seminar on the recently released National Commission on Restorative Justice final report with Brian Fitzpatrick, former Director of the National Commission on Restorative Justice.
The seminar took place on Tuesday 13th April in the Green Hall at the Law Society of Ireland.
Brian commenced the seminar by giving a presentation on the work the commission undertook and some of the findings that went into the report. This was followed by a lively discussion which included inputs from staff from some of the main government agencies and also community groups.
Thanks to Brian and all those present for an interesting and informative evening.