JAILING MY ATTACKER WOULD NOT BE RIGHT
Victim Kevin believes in second chances
“I DON’T think that locking someone away is the answer,” says Kevin, who was the victim of a serious assault.
His story features in Second Chancers, powerful first-person testimonies and films from people touched by the justice system.
Kevin joins offenders and professionals who all appear in the campaign by Community Justice Scotland.
The national agency is responsible for reducing reoffending in Scotland, where we have one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe, and Second Chancers is centred around the voices of those with experience of the Scottish justice system.
When Kevin was attacked in 2007, and hit over the head with a baseball bat and bottle, he thought he was going to die.
He says: “I phoned the 999 operator and said, ‘I think I’m going to die, I don’t want to die on my own, can you speak to me.’ ”
Fortunately, he recovered physically within a few weeks, but psychologically many scars remained.
“The mental scars stuck with me, I’m still dealing with some of them,” adds Kevin, who was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the incident.
“But I don’t think whoever did this to me going to jail would have helped me heal. There’s no closure when that court case is over.”
Only counselling helped Kevin come to terms with what had happened. And, advised to give something back to the community to help with his recovery, Kevin volunteered with Victim Support.
“I’ve endured the trauma so I know what people are going through. I know how it impacts on your life,” he adds.
“It’s given me a chance to be the voice of the victims when, at one point, I didn’t have a voice. I’m all for giving people who have offended second chances.
“People make mistakes. If you have lived your life and not made a single mistake then you’ve been very fortunate.”
Community justice proves that it is possible for people to turn their lives around.
Jordan Butler runs Heavy Sounds and uses music therapy to help young people at risk of offending to deal with trauma.
He works with young people aged from just 10 years old through secure units, high schools and children and family services.
Having been homeless himself at the age of only 13, he understands better than connection to music can help.
One young girl, facing extreme trauma, who had been involved in crime and drug issues, came to one of his sessions.
Jordan explains: “When she was leaving, she turned around and said, ‘Thank you, I don’t want to kill myself anymore.’
“She engaged in the rest of the project, stopped running away, stopped self-harming, and started addressing her drug use and mental health
Karyn McCluskey, Chief Executive of Community Justice Scotland, said: “Scotland has so many dedicated and compassionate people working in health, housing, education and justice who understand how they contribute to making our communities better for everyone.
“We all have a role to play and a responsibility to make Scotland the safest country in the world.”
People make mistakes. If you’ve never made one, you’re very fortunate
ASSAULT VICTIM KEVIN