Adopting the restorative justice system in policing: A study based on criminal intelligence and investigations directorate in Uganda Police Force

Abstract

The study was confined to the Jurisdiction of Central and Katwe Police Stations, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Headquarters Kibuli, all in Kampala district. This was because in the annual crime report of 2011/2012 Kampala had reported the highest crime rate and serious crime violations. The study set out to determine whether a problem solving multi-sectorial approach addresses the needs of the community as opposed to formal Criminal Justice System adopted by Police in Kampala, procedures of establishing partnership between the Police and Communities and to assess the likely impact of Restorative justice and punitive led Investigations as an approach in maintaining peace and harmony in communities.

The study adopted a comparative design and employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques.

The study found out that prevention is better than cure. A person is more likely to be deterred from committing a crime through the fear of the likelihood of being caught rather than the fear of a severe penalty.

The study further revealed that police must change its retributive approach in handling crime and that the current main contender for an alternative approach to criminal justice is not crime prevention but restorative justice.

The researcher makes several recommendations, which include Police to be aware of the community needs, Policing by consent not coercion, The Police as part of the community not apart from it, the Police and Community and other agencies working together in partnership, Increased trust and understanding between the Police and the community and recognizing each other's roles and responsibilities, Police to continuously identify areas of collaboration with the local communities, continued joint police and local authorities sensitization on crime prevention and the importance of restorative justice system.