Community Based Reparation

The Community Based Reparation Service was established in Aberdeen in May 2004. It is funded by the Scottish Executive through Aberdeen City Council’s “Building Strong, Safe and Attractive Communities” Initiative. 

What does the service offer?

Community Based Reparation is part of the Restorative Justice process offered by Sacro’s Youth Justice and Restorative Justice Services in Aberdeen.

Restorative Justice gives the person harmed by a crime a voice in how they would like the harm caused to them to be addressed. Young people and adults accused of crime are given the opportunity to take responsibility, apologise and take some action to repair the harm caused by their behaviour.

Community Based Reparation becomes appropriate, within the Restorative Justice process, when all parties agree that the young person or adult responsible for an offence could repair the harm caused by undertaking some voluntary work, either directly for the person harmed or indirectly within the local community. This voluntary work is called a reparative task and it focuses on repairing the harm.

How does the service work?

• If the people harmed by an offence request a reparative task as a means of repairing the harm caused, the Community Based Reparation Service worker facilitates this part of the restorative justice process, ensuring the negotiation, monitoring and administration of reparative tasks.
• The service worker provides appropriate support and supervision to enable the client to complete a reparative task.
• The service worker ensures that all health and safety requirements are fulfilled for any work undertaken by a service user.

The service aims To:

• Actively involve those affected by crime in the process of addressing the harm caused to them
• Allow those responsible for an offence the opportunity to make meaningful reparation for their actions.  
• Support people responsible for an offence to undertake voluntary work as reparation for the harm caused by their actions at the request of the people or community affected.

How is the service accessed?

If you would like more information on Community Based Reparation please call (01224) 560560 oe email info@aberdeen.sacro.org.uk.