Social psychologist Brian Steels and sociologist Dorothy Goulding are drawing offenders and victims of crime together in a community meeting to challenge the offending behaviour.

“This process is about healing not judging,” said Ms Goulding.

“The primary objective is to bring satisfaction to the victim by challenging the offender’s behaviour.

“However this process goes one step further, and sets about actually transforming the offender’s lifestyle.”

A world-first, this innovative model of restorative and transformative justice enables victims to play a key role in not only challenging offenders, but also in helping to transform their lives.

The research team is working with offenders brought before the Perth and Fremantle magistrate courts who plead guilty to charges of assault, burglary and fraud.

In the weeks before sentencing, Mr Steels and Ms Goulding work closely with victim and offender, building up rapport and a full picture of their lifestyles by visiting their homes and workplaces.

“This is a victim-oriented process,” Ms Goulding said.

“They choose the time and the place of the meeting, which is usually a community setting like a park or café.

“The main rule of the meetings is that each person must be able to speak undisturbed.”

Mr Steels said victims often showed a lot of apprehension and anger but became less punitive as they gained more personal knowledge of the offender.

“Although victims want to hear an apology, they also want input into getting the offender back on track,” he said.

“This process empowers the victim by enabling them to be valued citizens taking part in the healing process.

“Victims often recommend the offender attends a particular program or anger management classes, and these recommendations are taken into account by the magistrate during sentencing.”

Mr Steels said the system was not a soft option for offenders but a service that was more individually tailored to victim satisfaction and the offender needs.

“Prison itself is a problem, and we are looking for alternatives,” he said.

“Western Australia has the highest imprisonment rate in Australia. This system challenges some of the fundamental assumptions about crime, dealing with each case as a break in neighbourhood relationships rather than a crime against the State.”

The project is funded by the Australian Research Council for 18 months.