Cyber Victimisation, Restorative Justice and Victim-Offender Panels

Abstract

In recent years, individuals study and work from home with some degree of normality. Technology and the Internet have become an essential part of life. This increased reliance on technology and constant engagement with the online world has its negative repercussions. However, it has increased the number of offenders involved in cybercrimes. Considering the aftermath of cybercrimes and the need to address the impact of cybercrimes on victims, this paper reviews the existing mechanisms, such as legislation, international frameworks and conventions. The main purpose of this paper resides in the discussion of the possible use of restorative justice in supporting the needs of the victims. Taking into consideration the cross-border nature of many of these offences, other solutions have to be considered in order to give the victims a chance to be heard and to heal the wounds caused by the crime. This paper argues for the use of victim-offender panels, which are meetings between a group of cyber victims and a group of convicted cyber offenders, allowing victims to express the harm caused by the crime, to be healed and giving room for the offenders to feel remorse, lessening thus the likelihood of recidivism, under the umbrella of reintegrative shaming.