Restorative justice: the centre in Naples is now up and running
The organisation also handles cases involving minors
Key points
The activities of the restorative justice centre for the district of the Court of Appeal in the capital of Campania, promoted by the City Council. The centre is one of the first to be established in Italia, out of the 36 envisaged by the Cartabia reform.
Like the others, the Neapolitan centre offers mediation and dialogue programmes between victims and offenders, to facilitate restitution for the harm caused and to foster a sense of responsibility amongst those involved.
The objectives
The organisation takes on cases referred by the judicial authorities, including those involving minors, drawing on the expertise of mediators and working in collaboration with third sector organisations. The main aim is conflict resolution arising from the offence, moving beyond the punitive aspect and promoting an approach based on listening and on bringing the parties together. This represents a cultural shift, as explained by Maria Rosaria Covelli of the Naples Court of Appeal. The process is not an alternative to criminal proceedings, but runs alongside them and can be undertaken at any stage, from the investigation through to the enforcement of the sentence.
