On September 30, 2024, at 8:30 AM, Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office held the "2024 Restorative Justice Facilitator Training Workshop" in the Group Counseling Room on the first floor of the office’s second building. This workshop was designed to enhance the professional expertise and practical skills of restorative justice facilitators and other personnel involved in restorative justice processes. Head Prosecutor Xiaoqian Chen and Chief Probation Officer Suyu Chen attended the event, where they personally expressed their sincere appreciation to the facilitators for their dedication and hard work.

In her opening remarks, Head Prosecutor Xiaoqian Chen conveyed her deep gratitude to the Ministry of Justice for its steadfast support of restorative justice initiatives. She emphasized that the restorative justice platform serves as a vital mechanism for fostering meaningful dialogue among parties involved in criminal cases. Through the guidance of facilitators, this process encourages active listening, mutual understanding, and the expression of emotions. It addresses not only the emotional harm caused by criminal offenses but also aids in the repair of material damages. Head Prosecutor Chen highlighted that the focus on emotional healing is a key distinction between restorative justice and traditional mediation, which generally emphasizes conflict resolution over the emotional recovery of participants.

Head Prosecutor Chen reaffirmed that restorative justice is fundamentally a people-centered approach, designed to provide emotional support to participants within the judicial system. She expressed her hope that the workshop would enhance both the professional knowledge and service quality of the facilitators and staff members, further advancing the office’s restorative justice initiatives. She concluded by wishing the workshop great success, with the expectation that it would lead to significant improvements in the implementation of restorative justice programs.

The workshop featured a special lecture by Executive Director Hanxi Chai of the Chinese Restorative Facilitation Association. He offered an in-depth analysis of restorative justice models and shared several practical case studies. In the afternoon, participants engaged in sessions focused on "Building and Purpose of Growth Groups" and "Conflict Management Skills." These sessions were designed to enhance participants' communication and conflict management abilities, which are critical to the effective implementation of restorative justice practices.

The workshop concluded successfully, with participants gaining valuable insights. Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office looks forward to the application of the knowledge gained during the workshop to help transform the relationships and emotional trauma of those involved in criminal cases. Ultimately, the goal is to facilitate the reintegration of both victims and offenders into society, restore normalcy to their lives, and contribute to a greater sense of social order and harmony.