Victim Assistance

Sycamore Tree: A Victim Shares her Experience

Lyn Connolly volunteers as a surrogate victim and tells how speaking on the Sycamore Tree course has helped in her rehabilitation after the murder of her son:

Finding Release in Prison: A Victim’s Story. Restorative Justice Online. October 2008 Edition.

After the brutal murder of her fifteen year old daughter, Karen was devastated. Yet she needed that terrible experience to be turned toward a positive purpose. To that end she volunteered to participate in the Sycamore Tree Project® -- a faith-based, in-prison restorative justice programme – in order to share her story with prisoners who had caused similar pain through their violent acts. To their surprise, both she and her husband discovered that they had been given a way to address and let go of some of the anger and pain they had been holding.

“Today I got to Speak”

Trembling from fear as they neared the massive prison, Fiona and Helen both felt the urge to just keep driving and avoid meeting the offenders who waited for them behind the gates. They were on their way to take part in PF Australia’s Sycamore Tree Project® (STP) at Acacia Prison near Perth in Western Australia.

Prisoners Donate to Fund for Victims

Furthering the reconciliation work that is initiated by the Sycamore Tree Project® (STP), Prison Fellowship Western Australia has set up a Victim Relief Fund that encourages prisoners to donate to crime victims.

Advocating for Victims’ Rights in New Zealand

On September 7, PF New Zealand representatives addressed the New Zealand Justice and Electoral Committee Inquiry into Victims Rights. The PF NZ team recommended that the government strengthen victims’ access to victim offender conferencing and victim offender panels.