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GCSE · Restorative Justice

RS.TE10 Restorative Justice: Religious Rehabilitation Schemes for Offenders

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Which one of the following UK schemes is best known for bringing victims and offenders together in a structured, restorative workshop, drawing on Christian ideas of repentance?

A Prison Fellowship's Sycamore Tree Programme
B Muslim Hands family grants
C Salvation Army night shelter
D St John's Ambulance first aid training

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Give two aims of religious rehabilitation schemes for offenders, as practised by Christian and Muslim groups in UK prisons.

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Explain two ways Christian volunteers and chaplains put beliefs about reformation into action in UK prisons, naming real practices.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two ways Muslim organisations support offenders and their families in the UK, putting beliefs about repentance and community responsibility into practice.

(Total for Question 4 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting religious views about whether punishment should focus more on retribution or on reformation, referring to a sacred text or source in your answer and naming the context of restorative schemes in UK prisons.

(Total for Question 5 is 5 marks)

Give three features of a typical Sycamore Tree Programme workshop used in UK prisons, naming the context of victim and offender participation.

(Total for Question 6 is 3 marks)

Give three reasons why faith-based rehabilitation schemes run by religious groups might help reduce reoffending, relating the reasons to UK prison practice.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Explain two challenges faced by religious restorative and rehabilitation schemes working inside UK prisons, with reference to real practical issues.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Give three examples of how victims can be supported within restorative justice schemes in UK prisons, naming the practical support offered.

(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)

Explain the importance of partnerships between religious bodies and secular agencies for successful rehabilitation of offenders in the UK.

(Total for Question 10 is 6 marks)

'Restorative justice is the most effective way to treat criminals.' Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, refer to religious arguments and reach a justified conclusion. Include spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) assessment.

(Total for Question 11 is 15 marks)

Explain two features of Muslim chaplaincy work in UK prisons and how each feature supports rehabilitation and community responsibility.

(Total for Question 12 is 5 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TE10 Restorative Justice: Religious Rehabilitation Schemes for Offenders

Question 1

B1 selecting A, Prison Fellowship's Sycamore Tree Programme, as the restorative workshop scheme
Answer: A

Question 2

B1 aim 1: to encourage offenders to take responsibility and make amends, oe
B1 aim 2: to support offenders to reform so they can reintegrate into society, oe
Answer: Any two: encourage responsibility and amends; support reform and reintegration.

Question 3

B1 point 1: running restorative workshops such as the Sycamore Tree Programme which bring victims and offenders together, oe
B1 development: this puts Christian teaching on repentance and reconciliation into practice by enabling offenders to hear the impact of their actions and express remorse, oe
B1 point 2: providing pastoral care and mentoring through chaplaincy, oe
B1 development: chaplains offer counselling, help with faith formation and practical support, aiming to transform attitudes and reduce reoffending, oe
Answer: E.g. Sycamore Tree Workshops to enable remorse and reconciliation; chaplaincy mentoring and pastoral care to support moral change and reduce reoffending.

Question 4

B1 point 1: Muslim chaplains provide religious guidance, counselling and referrals to services within prisons, oe
B1 development: this helps offenders to repent, rebuild moral outlook and access support such as addiction services, oe
B1 point 2: Muslim charities offer practical support for families, such as emergency grants or housing advice, oe
B1 development: supporting families reduces pressure on offenders on release and aids reintegration, showing communal duty in Islam, oe
Answer: E.g. chaplaincy for religious guidance and counselling; charities giving practical family support to ease reintegration and reflect communal responsibility.

Question 5

B1 view 1: some Christians support reformation and restorative justice, arguing that Jesus taught forgiveness and reconciliation, oe
B1 development: this is supported by the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32, emphasising repentance and reconciliation, oe
B1 view 2: other religious voices may accept punishment as a just response that protects society and expresses moral condemnation, oe
B1 development: this position can be supported by scriptural and communal teachings that stress justice and consequences, oe
B1 accurate reference to a sacred text or source is given, named and linked to the view, oe
Answer: E.g. reformation view: Luke 15:11-32 used to stress repentance and reconciliation; retribution view: scriptural and communal emphases on justice and consequences are cited as support.

Question 6

B1 feature 1: structured sessions where offenders meet victims or victim statements under guidance, oe
B1 feature 2: use of Bible stories or parables such as the Prodigal Son to reflect on repentance, oe
B1 feature 3: facilitated opportunities for offenders to take responsibility and plan reparation, oe
Answer: Any three: structured guided meetings with victims or victim statements; use of parables such as the Prodigal Son; facilitated responsibility and reparation planning.

Question 7

B1 reason 1: they offer personal mentoring and support that can change attitudes and behaviour, oe
B1 reason 2: they provide practical resettlement help such as housing and employment links, oe
B1 reason 3: they encourage offenders to make amends and accept responsibility which can reduce reoffending, oe
B1 development: at least one reason must be linked to a specific UK practice such as chaplaincy mentoring or charity family support, oe
Answer: E.g. mentoring changes attitudes; practical resettlement help like housing referrals; encouraging responsibility and reparation via restorative work such as Sycamore Tree.

Question 8

B1 challenge 1: limited access and security restrictions can restrict volunteers and victims from taking part, oe
B1 development: this reduces the frequency and reach of programmes and can limit sustained mentoring, oe
B1 challenge 2: religiously-based schemes may be viewed with suspicion by prisoners of different or no faith, affecting participation rates, oe
B1 development: this can create inclusivity problems and reduce perceived legitimacy, requiring careful interfaith and secular partnership work, oe
Answer: E.g. restricted access/security limits programme reach; suspicion or lack of inclusivity reduces participation, needing interfaith and partnership solutions.

Question 9

B1 example 1: meeting with offenders in a controlled workshop, with preparation and support, oe
B1 example 2: written victim impact statements used in restorative sessions, oe
B1 example 3: follow-up counselling and referrals to support services after the restorative encounter, oe
Answer: Any three: supported meetings with offenders; victim impact statements; follow-up counselling and referrals to services.

Question 10

Level 3 (5-6): A detailed, well-structured answer that explains several ways partnerships improve rehabilitation, using specific examples and making clear links between partnership activities and outcomes.
Level 2 (3-4): An answer that explains some ways partnerships help rehabilitation, with some supporting examples, but limited depth or linkage.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two limited points about partnerships are made, with little supporting detail.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- Partnerships allow religious groups to refer offenders to housing, employment and addiction services provided by secular agencies, improving resettlement outcomes.
- Secular agencies can offer training, safeguarding and evaluation expertise that religious volunteers alone may lack, increasing programme effectiveness.
- Partnerships create credibility with prison authorities and funders, helping programmes to scale and to gain formal access to prisons.
- Combined resources and shared monitoring reduce duplication and improve continuity of care after release, lowering reoffending risks.
- Examples include chaplaincy working with probation services, or Prison Fellowship partnering with local charities for accommodation and work placements.

Question 11

Level 4 (10-12): A well-reasoned, balanced evaluation that develops several relevant arguments for and against the view, includes informed religious and real-world examples, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
Level 3 (7-9): A balanced response with developed arguments on both sides, some use of religious or practical examples, and an attempt at a conclusion, though some points may be less developed.
Level 2 (4-6): A limited evaluation that gives arguments for and against the view with some supporting detail, but lacks depth, use of religious material, or a clear conclusion.
Level 1 (1-3): Simple, undeveloped points for or against the view, lacking supporting detail and not addressing religious arguments or reaching a conclusion.
Level 0 (0): No relevant material.
Indicative content:
- Arguments for: restorative justice can make offenders understand the harm caused, promote genuine remorse, and lead to repaired relationships and compensation, reducing reoffending.
- Arguments for: faith-inspired schemes emphasise repentance and reconciliation, drawing on teachings such as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and Christian calls to forgive, which can motivate moral change.
- Arguments against: restorative justice may not be appropriate for all crimes or victims, for example in cases of serious violence where victims do not want contact or where offenders deny responsibility.
- Arguments against: it may overlook the need for societal protection and punishment as a deterrent, and some argue resources are better spent on practical resettlement services.
- Religious perspectives: proponents cite scriptures and teachings on forgiveness and transformation; critics within religious communities may stress justice and the need for repentance to be matched by consequences.
- Evaluation and conclusion: weigh the strengths and limits, consider the importance of a mixed approach combining restorative practices with effective punishment and resettlement, and make a justified judgement.

Question 12

B1 feature 1: offering regular religious teaching and opportunities for prayer, oe
B1 development: this supports moral formation, daily discipline and a sense of identity that can reduce reoffending, oe
B1 feature 2: providing family liaison and referrals to community support services, oe
B1 development: this helps maintain family ties and connects offenders to practical help on release, aiding reintegration, oe
B1 contextual link: reference to UK prison chaplaincy practice is made accurately, oe
Answer: E.g. religious teaching and prayer to support moral formation; family liaison and referrals to help reintegration and show communal duty.

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