Creggan
Community Restorative Justice:
An Evaluation and Suggested Way Forward
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Executive Summary
This evaluation of the CRJ Creggan Project commenced in February 2001
and was initiated by St Columbs 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 CRJs help.
The findings from the research are presented in sections, namely:
1.
Structure and operation of scheme;
2.
Young peoples 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:
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Motivated
volunteer committee members;
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Interested
local agencies;
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Volunteer
mediators;
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External
expertise in CRJ;
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Volunteer
support workers;
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Paid
staff;
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Premises/offices;
-
Drop
in facilities;
-
Expertise
in supervision and support for workers and volunteers;
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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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