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Creggan Community Restorative Justice:
An Evaluation and Suggested Way Forward

Executive Summary
This evaluation of the CRJ Creggan Project commenced in February 2001 and was initiated by St Columb’s Park House (SCPH). The Institute for Conflict Research (ICR) was approached by SCPH due to its track record in using participative action research (PAR) methods with young people. In PAR the community under study actively participate with the researcher throughout the research process from the design to the presentation of the findings.

The evaluation initially involved a number of scheduled meetings between ICR, SCPH and a group of young adolescent males to discuss the research and seek their participation. The young people were requested to assist in the design of a questionnaire to assess the views and opinions among other young people in the community of the CRJ scheme. The questionnaire was distributed to young people in a local school. A more in-depth questionnaire was provided to the teachers within the school to incorporate a broader range of views from local community-based leaders.

The group of young adolescent males also took part in a focus group discussion. CRJ volunteers also agreed to participate in a focus group discussion but requested that the discussion was not taped. Individual interviews were conducted with other local community-based leaders including a school headmaster, a priest and various politicians. SCPH also assisted by conducting individual interviews with victims who had sought CRJ’s help.

The findings from the research are presented in sections, namely:

1. Structure and operation of scheme;
2. Young people’s perspectives;
3. Volunteers’ perspectives;
4. Local community leaders’ perspectives;
5. Victims’ perspectives.

The findings enabled ICR to suggest some recommendations and ideas for the future of the CRJ in Creggan. ICR recommended that CRJ Creggan required:

  • Motivated volunteer committee members;
  • Interested local agencies;
  • Volunteer mediators;
  • External expertise in CRJ;
  • Volunteer support workers;
  • Paid staff;
  • Premises/offices;
  • Drop in facilities;
  • Expertise in supervision and support for workers and volunteers;
  • Funding.

The availability of these resources will determine the feasibility of establishing a more effective CRJ scheme. In the course of our work, we have determined that some of these resources are readily available, whilst others remain to be secured.

For further information on the Creggan CRJ project contact Noel McCartney (Co-ordinator) on 07703 329 656.


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©ICR 2001 Last Updated on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 4:41 PM