00:00It's been an option for victims of crime in Canberra for 20 years, and now the ACT's
00:07restorative justice scheme is being boosted.
00:10The scheme sets up a conference between a victim of crime and their perpetrator.
00:15After two decades, its popularity has grown as more offences have been included.
00:21We have seen increasing demand for the program and also increasing complexity, particularly
00:26since the opening up of the scheme to family and sexual violence offences.
00:31During a conference, the offender takes responsibility for their actions, while the victim explains
00:36how they have been affected.
00:38In some cases, it's an alternative to court, though it can run alongside a prosecution.
00:44Sitting across the table from somebody who is taking responsibility for it and being
00:49accountable for it, no excuses, is quite a different experience from what you can see
00:55in the traditional system.
00:56A team at Melbourne's RMIT University will review the scheme.
01:01They'll also look into alternatives to criminal prosecution for survivors of sexual offences.
01:07We're very keen to look at a range of civil options and the RMIT study will examine what
01:11is available.
01:12A sensitive approach to the often confronting pursuit of justice.
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