Strengthening Communities Through Restorative Justice in Highland

Gabrielle Buist, Senior Development Officer for the Highland Community Justice Partnership, reflects on the journey of restorative justice (RJ) service development in the Highland so far and its potential to benefit justice processes and community relationships.

NOTE: The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Community Justice Scotland and other organisations that may be mentioned.

When I stepped into the role of Senior Development Officer for the Highland Community Justice Partnership nearly two years ago, my goal was clear: raise awareness of what community justice really means. I anticipated confusion or even resistance – but what I found surprised me. As I travelled across the Highland Council area, speaking with communities and sharing stories from justice social work teams and their clients, I saw firsthand how keeping people in their communities – wherever possible – can lead to better outcomes. And more importantly, I discovered a deeper level of empathy and understanding among the public than I had expected.

While it was encouraging to see broad support for community justice, I kept returning to a key question: how do the victims of crime feel about this approach? Understandably, many find it difficult to support community-based sentences, especially when they’ve experienced trauma. Statistics and data don’t offer comfort when you’re struggling to sleep or feel safe. At our regular Highland Community Justice Partnership meetings, we ask ourselves: what more we can do for victims of crime.

In an ideal world, we would have more preventative measures in place. The traditional retributive approach often fails to satisfy victims or prevent further reoffending. Highland faces significant challenges – substance abuse, growing county lines activity and interpersonal conflicts that isolate individuals and erode trust. In remote and rural communities, misinformation, fear, unemployment, and criminal exploitation can quickly unravel the social fabric.

That’s why the Community Justice Partnership in Highland is exploring Restorative Justice (RJ) – a practice that fosters dialogue, understanding and respect. We know RJ isn’t a cure-all, but it offers a powerful way to address harm and conflict. Crucially, we want this to be a victim-led service, giving those affected by crime the choice to engage and the opportunity to get answers that help them move forward.

I spent my first year researching how RJ has been used in other countries while also discovering pockets around Scotland. I also connected with Community Justice Scotland and completed Sacro’s one day online RJ training, where I met other Highland colleagues who were keen to start an RJ working group. In my second year, the group was established, consisting of Highland Community Justice Partnership, Victim Support Scotland, Justice Social Work, Action for Children and Custody Links.

To raise awareness and gather momentum, we hosted a Restorative Justice: Exploring a Highland Model event on 11 September. The 100 spaces offered at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) were snapped up by all the right people, such as professionals in victim organisations, justice social work, prison, community payback, court and defence solicitors, and it was a real success! More key players came on board as well as gathering a groundswell of support. Thanks must go to the inspirational speakers who have also been supportive in our wider efforts of seeding a RJ pilot service. The wonderful GEESE Theatre Company skilfully brought the RJ process to life through their powerful stage presence and artistry, while also engaging the audience in relevant break out group discussions.

The photos speak for themselves but they really brought RJ to life in a thought-provoking and impactful way. You  can watch our 3min video of the day here.

We hope the event will serve as a launch pad for developing a pilot RJ service in Highland. Already, it’s led to positive outcomes, including new members joining the working group and increased support from key stakeholders. Once established in the Highland justice system, RJ’s adaptable approach could extend to schools and workplaces and other settings – helping people resolve conflict early and prevent bullying behaviours and cultures from taking hold.

You can follow our progress in Highland at one of the below links or by contacting the author of this blog. We’re excited about what’s ahead – and committed to building a justice system that works for everyone.

Useful links: