Experiences of participants

Hans had an unfortunate fall. During the first diagnosis at the hospital, he’s told he hasn’t broken anything. Later that evening he hears that he has a spinal fracture. 

Frans is in Leeuwarden prison for assault and making threats. He’ll be getting out soon. Not that long ago, he spoke to a mediator from Perspectief at a reintegration market. He took a folder, which skimmed once. Could this be something for him?

Already during his prison sentence, Ata wanted to apologize to the victims of the fire he started in asylum seekers center. After he got out, a probation worker applied for him at Perspectief Herstelbemiddeling. What followed was a special conversation between victim and offender.

After her brother Fred is killed by his partner, Els feels the need to get in contact with the perpetrator. Through Perspectief, Els talks to him in prison. From that moment, Els knows that forgiveness is the way to go for her.

Almost seven years ago, Daphne’s ex-partner stabbed her. In the Magazine for Restorative Justice (Tijdschrift voor Herstelrecht) in an issue themed around forgiveness, Daphne talks about her process. “I’ve only now started to be angry. And I like it.” 
 

After Melissa was involved in a robbery at a supermarket, the perpetrator asked to get in contact with her through Perspectief. A few weeks later, Melissa can look the robber in the eyes. “There was a completely different man in front of me.”

Rens (28) was happy that Monique wanted to talk to him eight years after the accident in which she lost her two children. And even though it was the hardest thing he’s ever done, he’s very grateful that the conversation took place. “I wanted to do something good for Monique and Ludo so badly.”

Three teenagers from the same village get into a traffic accident after a night out. The driver survives, but his passengers, a brother and sister, do not. What now? Mother Monique: “Thanks to the mediator we can look back at an open and honest conversation.”

It’s a dark and rainy morning when Sharon (then 16 years old) is hit by a van on her scooter. The accident and the period after are one big black hole. Over a year later, she feels ready to talk with the causer of the accident through Perspectief.