frequently asked questions
Do you have a question?
Please click on the questions below to see the answers.
About the Forum:
- We disseminate information on RJ
- We develop and implement RJ
- We train RJ practitioners
- We organise RJ-related events
Please visit this page to learn more about the Forum.
In most cases, it is the victims of crime who come to the Forum because they have heard about restorative justice and expect to be relieved of the burden of the trauma they have suffered. Often it is also the prison management and social services who refer inmates who may be interested in RJ processes.
Please click here to learn more about our services for victims. If you’d like to read more about our services for offenders, please follow this link.
Regardless where you are based in Switzerland, you are welcome to join the Forum which has just over 100 members in the German, French and Italian speaking regions.
Members pay a modest annual fee, currently a minimum of CHF 30.00 which is used for the work of the Forum. There may be an additional fee for the regional groups.
For further details, please visit our Become a member page.
If you are interested in joining a regional group, please get in touch by contacting swissrjforum@gmail.com and you will be approached by the person responsible for your region.
Please click here to learn more about our regional groups.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the core decision-making event of our membership. This event is open to the public, therefore everyone is welcome to attend but only members can vote.
Please visit this page to learn more about our general assembly.
About restorative justice:
Restorative justice has a broad field of application. It consists of a series of processes aimed at addressing conflicts and crime within a wide range of settings.
It places victims at the centre, seeking ways to address their needs and prioritising their recovery. In addition, it supports offenders and others affected, such as family members on both sides.
Click here to learn more about restorative justice.
No. Restorative justice is a holistic approach to addressing conflicts and responding to the aftermath of crime. Mediation is just one of several methods used within RJ, alongside other formats such as circles and conferences. While mediation often seeks to achieve consensus between the parties, restorative justice emphasises dialogue, reflection, and a deeper understanding of the impact of a crime. It focuses on acknowledging the harm experienced and collaboratively exploring pathways for reparation.
Please click here to learn more about restorative justice.
The core values of RJ are justice, solidarity, responsibility, truth, respect and dignity.
Please click here to learn more about restorative justice.
Restorative justice is not necessarily an alternative to existing legal proceedings but is often a complementary approach. In many cases, it can be used alongside traditional criminal justice processes to better support those affected and foster sustainable solutions. According to the Council of Europe’s recommendation, access to restorative processes should be ensured for all types of crime and at all stages of the justice system, including outside formal criminal proceedings. In some cases, it can serve as a meaningful alternative, particularly when it better meets the needs of those involved and allows for deeper resolution.
Please click here to learn more about restorative justice.
The RJ processes must be accessible to the persons concerned at all times, if they so wish. The Forum endeavours to offer the procedures free of charge and to make this possible, one of the Forum’s tasks is to raise the funds to facilitate these complex procedures.
Please click here to learn how you can support the Forum.
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In case you have further questions about restorative justice or our services in Switzerland, please follow the buttons below.
