Outcomes of restorative justice program at the Iloilo Province Parole and Probation Office No. 2

Abstract

The Volunteer Probation Aide (VPA) Program is a strategy by which the Parole and Probation Administration may be able to generate maximum citizen participation or community involvement. Citizens of good standing in the community may volunteer to assist the probation and parole officers in the supervision of a number of probationers, parolees and conditional pardonees in their respective communities. Since they reside in the same community as the client, they are able to usher the reformation and rehabilitation of the clients hands-on (Herradura, 2009). In short, the Volunteer Probation Aides assist the offenders towards rehabilitation while they are under supervision in their respective communities. In collaboration with the PPO, the VPA helps pave the way for the offender, victim and community to each heal from the harm resulting from the crime done. They can initiate a circle of support for clients and victims to prevent further crimes, thereby acting as participants in nation building. The outcomes of restorative justice interventions appear interesting in view of its major function of restoring the losses suffered by the victims of crimes, holding offenders accountable for the harm they have caused, and building peace within communities. It is within the purview of this shift in paradigm in addressing the effects of crime that this study was conducted. Statement of the Problem The present study was an attempt to determine and describe the outcomes of the restorative justice program in Iloilo Province Parole and Probation Office No.2. To carry out this objective, three outcome variables were considered. These were: (1) losses suffered by the victims of crimes; (2) offenders’ accountability for the harm caused; and (3) building peace within communities. Specifically, the study attempted to find answers to the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of such variables as age, gender, level of education, length of supervision period, client type, residence and present living arrangement? 2. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in restoring the losses suffered by the victims? 3. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in defining offenders’ accountability for the harm caused by the crime? 4. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in terms of building peace in the community? 5. Are there significant differences in the restoration of losses suffered by the victims when the respondents are classified according to age, gender, education, length of supervision and client type, residence and present living arrangement? 6. Are there significant differences in defining offenders’ accountability for the harm caused by the crime when the respondents are classified according to age, gender, education length of supervision and client type, residence and present living arrangement? 7. Are there significant differences in building peace in the community when respondents are classified according to age, gender, education, length of supervision and client type, residence and present living arrangement?