On 17 April Dr Kate Doolin spoke at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Birmingham on the use of restorative justice approaches as part of the Government’s proposals for Anti-Social Behaviour reforms in England and Wales.
The conference entitled ASB reforms – tools and powers for housing providers was attended by those working in local authorities and housing associations. Dr Doolin’s keynote presentation, ‘Restorative Justice: a victim centred approach,’ provided delegates with an understanding of restorative justice approaches as a way to resolve conflict. She demonstrated how a restorative justice strategy is part of the reforms outlined in the Draft Anti-Social Behaviour Bill (December 2012); and considered the benefits, and challenges, of involving communities in resolving local disputes.
Dr Kate Doolin is a lecturer at Birmingham Law School where is module leader of Criminology, Restorative Justice, and Victimisation and Victim Policy. She has published in the field of restorative justice and given papers at international conferences and seminars on the topic, most recently in Leuven, Bilbao, Birmingham and Kent. She is contributing editor (with Child, Raine and Beech) of Whose Criminal Justice? State or Community? (Waterside Press, 2011).