Jemma Jewkes, Restorative Justice Co-ordinator, HMP Gloucester

Jemma has a BAHons in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Masters in International Criminology specialising in Restorative Practice. Jemma’s main role is as the Restorative Justice coordinator at HMP Gloucester. She manages a cohort of volunteers delivering face to face restorative interventions to offenders in custody and the victims of those offenders. Jemma's been working as an associate trainer with Restorative Solutions since 2007. Her interest in restorative justice was kindled when studying a masters degree at the university of Sheffield, where she specialised in restorative justice in prisons. Following a work placement with Remedi in 2006, she secured a permanent post with them and was seconded to the Sheffield Youth Offending Team, where she worked as Restorative Justice facilitator until her move back to Gloucestershire in 2007 and took up a post as a Prison Officer. Following the success of the project in HMP Gloucester, she frequently advises and assists other establishments with set-up and training.

Jemma initiated a multi-partnership group compromising of both voluntary and statutory sector partners and secured CLINKS funding to work with IOM offenders in both the community and custody in Gloucestershire. She is working with partners across Gloucestershire to implement the ‘Restorative Gloucestershire’ vision. Jemma is also currently working with NOMS to develop an RJ strategy for the prison and probation service. She and three of her volunteers are engaged in the Restorative Practice Diploma Pilot. She is also providing input to the Restorative Justice Consortium Best Practice Guidance. Jemma is a successful practitioner, speaker and trainer, who firmly believes there is a fundamental place for restorative practices in prisons and across society as a whole.