A restorative justice conference is a voluntary meeting between a young person (aged 10 to 17) who has committed a crime and the people must affected by that crime to discuss:
- what happened
- the effects of the offence
- repairing the harm caused to the victim.
Restorative justice is used around the world and has been shown to have positive outcomes for those affected by a crime, such as increased feelings of safety and reduced anger. It also decreases the young person's chances of committing another crime. It views crime as more than breaking the law. It takes into account the harm caused to those who are offended against, the wider community and people close to the young person. Similar conferences are run for adults who have been charged with or convicted of some offences.
Find out how young people can be referred to a restorative justice conference.
Purpose
The aim of a conference is to come up with an agreement about how the young person can try and repair the harm that has been caused.
Restorative justice conferences provides a safe environment for everyone affected by a crime to talk about what happened and how the young person can start making things right.
Conferences work to promote the below.
Accountability
Restorative justice is not a "soft" approach. During a conference, a young person must take responsibility for their actions and acknowledge how their actions have negatively impacted others. By facing the consequences and hearing directly from the victim, they can begin to understand the harm they have caused and take steps to make amends. The agreement they complete involves actions that are meaningful to the people they've harmed.
Victim participation
Restorative justice conferences give people harmed by crime the chance to participate in the justice process. They can share their feelings, express their needs, ask questions and be involved in the development of an agreement for repairing the harm. The hope is that this contributes to victims' healing and recovery by:
- feeling heard
- feeling validated
- understanding more about the young person who committed the offence and what led up to it.
Restoration and repair
The victim and young person can agree on an achievable outcome for the young person to help make things right. Agreements may include:
- apologies
- actions that help the person harmed to heal
- returning goods or paying for losses
- volunteer work
- engaging with services to address challenges the young person may be facing that are contributing to their offending behaviour.
Restorative justice agreements focus on what is most meaningful for the person harmed, although other participants (police, for example) can also contribute.
Family and community involvement
Restorative justice conferences involves the community in the justice process. Family members and/or other supporters of the person harmed and the young person, may participate in the conference and provide support to those involved. This helps to build a sense of community ownership over the justice process and encourages the development of community-based solutions for preventing reoffending.
Find out what happens at a restorative justice conference.
Why conferencing is an effective justice process
Restorative justice conferences have been proven to reduce reoffending and help the healing journey of a person harmed by the crime. By promoting accountability and involving the community, restorative justice conferences can contribute to the rehabilitation of young offenders and reduce the likelihood of future offending which helps to keep the community safe.
Most people harmed by an offence report a positive outcome from participating in the conference. This can be attributed to:
- understanding more about the offence so they do not feel like they are being targeted
- knowing more about the young person and understanding what led up to them committing the offence
- sharing how they have been affected by what happened
- feeling listened to, respected and involved in the legal process, including the outcome.
For many victims of crime, restorative justice is not about forgiving or punishing the young person; it is about starting to feel safe again.
It is important to note that restorative justice conferences are not appropriate for all offenders or victims and their effectiveness may vary depending on various factors. Professional assessment and appropriate implementation are crucial for their success.
Comments from former participants
Most victims who have participated in a restorative justice conference have said they would recommend the process to other victims.
"It was a lot, it was emotional, it worked towards healing." — Victim.
"It provided more clarity as to what happened prior to the incident and appreciation regarding genuine opportunities for change." — Victim.
"It was very hard, but I feel that some progress was made due to this process. The convenors provided us with a lot of support before and during the conference." — Victim of a serious offence.
"The process was very positive it gave scope for everyone to speak in an environment that was most constructive." — Victim.
"This is a fantastic service available to people that is positive, productive, and actually restorative." — Victim.
"Very helpful experience for all of us - so grateful to have had this opportunity. Kind by firm professionals guided us through this process. Issues became a lot clearer. Knowing how people are affected was realised. The gravity of the situation was acknowledged." — Support person for a young person who committed an offence.
"This conference has helped me see the victim's side of things—a weight off my shoulders." — Young person who committed an offence.
"This is better than court. This actually has meaning." — Young person who committed an offence.
"I think the conference was a very respectful way to communicate and share everyone's opinions from different perspectives." — Young person who committed an offence.
Last updated 11 July 2024
