Evidence boundary
Prison Fellowship and the Restorative Justice Council promote the approaches they describe. Programme aims, participant experiences and independently tested outcomes are different kinds of evidence.
GCSE case study · Good and Evil
Restorative justice and Prison Fellowship
Restorative justice asks whether wrongdoing can be addressed through responsibility, repair and carefully structured encounters.
01 · Case
Case outline
Prison Fellowship describes Sycamore Tree as a restorative-justice course in which people in prison examine the impact of their crime. Restorative justice more broadly centres communication about harm, responsibility and repair, with safe, informed and voluntary participation rather than a compulsory meeting between victim and offender.
The case asks whether punishment can address harm without being reduced to suffering imposed in return. Repair does not automatically remove punishment, guarantee forgiveness or make an apology sufficient. The Restorative Justice Council reports research indicating high participant satisfaction and reduced frequency of reoffending, but it is an advocacy body; programme aims, participant experiences and independently tested outcomes remain different kinds of evidence, and the underlying study needs separate checking.
02 · Establish
Secure what the evidence can establish
Start with the boundary, then attach every claim to its receipt.
- 01 · source fact
Prison Fellowship describes Sycamore Tree as a restorative-justice course in which people in prison explore the impact of their crime.
Sources: Prison Fellowship England and Wales - 02 · source fact
Restorative justice centres communication about harm, responsibility and repair, normally requiring safe, informed and voluntary participation.
Sources: Restorative Justice Council - 03 · source evaluation
The Restorative Justice Council summarises research indicating high participant satisfaction and a reduced frequency of reoffending, but it is an advocacy body and the underlying study must be checked separately.
Sources: Restorative Justice Council
03 · Test
Challenge the easy version
Use the language carefully, find the tempting errors and inspect the complete evidence trail.
Concepts
restorative justicereparationreformationvictim needsresponsibility
Misconceptions
01. Restorative justice means no punishment.
02. A victim must meet an offender.
03. An apology guarantees repair or forgiveness.
Evidence trail
Open the sources
Test the claims above and notice what each source can — and cannot — show.
- Our work
Prison Fellowship England and Wales · first party charity
Supports programme aims and design; outcome claims need independent corroboration. Checked 2026-08-18. - Evidence supporting restorative justice
Restorative Justice Council · professional advocacy
Summarises research but is also an advocacy body; distinguish process, evidence and claim. Checked 2026-08-18. - GCSE Religious Studies Route A specification, Version 4
Eduqas · assessment authority
Controls required content; it is not evidence that every named view is uncontested. Checked 2026-08-18.
04 · Apply
Turn evidence into an answer
Attempt each question in your notes or on paper before opening its indicative guidance.
- 01 · Assessment objective 1 · 2 marks
State two accurate facts about Restorative justice and Prison Fellowship.
Indicative guidance
Credit two distinct, source-supported facts. Do not credit an organisation claim as independently verified impact.
- 02 · Assessment objective 1 · 5 marks
Explain how Restorative justice and Prison Fellowship connects with restorative justice, reparation, reformation, victim needs, responsibility.
Indicative guidance
Develop at least two accurate case-to-concept links. Naming a concept without explaining the link is insufficient.
- 03 · source_analysis · 4 marks
What can one source in this fact file establish, and what can it not establish on its own?
Indicative guidance
Identify the source and type, make one supported utility point and one precise limitation. Generic claims that a source is biased earn no credit without explanation.
- 04 · Assessment objective 2 · 15 marks
'Repairing harm should always be the main aim of punishment.' Evaluate this statement.
Indicative guidance
Use the case accurately as evidence, test more than one perspective and reach a justified conclusion. Case knowledge is evidence, not a substitute for reasoning.
Guidance is indicative, not an official mark scheme. This page does not collect or save answers.