The role of Community-based RJ Projects in the Formulation and Deployment of an Adult Restorative Justice Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland (NI) is a post conflict society still grappling with the aftermath of violence. During the almost 30 years of political conflict, informal forms of vigilante justice became normal practice in local communities. With armed paramilitary organisations predominantly controlling responses to perceived crime through violent punishment regimes. Community based restorative justice (CBRJ) projects were formed as a response to such violence and attempted to put an end to the paramilitaries effectively policing their own communities (McEvoy and Mika, 2002). Researchers have highlighted challenges posed by this transition from conflict noting how it has left NI with a distinctively unique civic justice arena that in many ways continues to operate within the same tribal boundaries evident in the conflict (Irwin, 2003). Other habits of the past remain with significant sections of society wedded to punitive responses to perceived wrongdoing rather than focusing on restoration and reconciliation (Mcnaull, 2016). As Richmond and Gëzim Visoka, (2021) highlight, the ongoing processes of peace and reconciliation need to address issues of mistrust and suspicion in society , issues that remain pertinent from both a community and state perspective.

It is amidst this transitional setting that CBRJ projects operate in many of the local communities most impacted by conflict. Since 2007, two CBRJ projects have been accredited under the 2007 government protocol with their work being viewed as valuable both in terms of moving local communities away from the violence perpetuated by armed groups, and in bringing key state actors like the police closer to local communities through their partnership work (CJI, 2019). The way restorative justice has gained a foothold across key government sectors has led to callings for a more formalised approach to RJ, resulting in a proposed Adult Restorative Justice Strategy (ARJS). This strategy is looking to create an overarching restorative approach, building on the existing Youth Justice legislation which embeds RJ practice. Particularly, the ARJS provides an opportunity to 'better meet the needs of, and provide redress for the harm caused to, victims of crime...in partnership with the community' (Department of Justice, 2020, p.5). This research will explore what these new proposals and potential 'partnerships' mean, for the future of the CBRJ projects, and will analyse their potential to reframe both the ethos and application of responses to crime and harm amidst Northern Ireland's unique transitional context.