What is Restorative Justice?

Restorative processes bring those harmed by crime or conflict, and those responsible for the harm, into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.

Restorative practice includes using these processes formally (for example, a restorative justice conference involving victims and offenders, or in a care home following an incident of harm), or informally, in the course of daily work (for example as used by a police officer to deal with low level crime on the beat, or a teacher, to manage a conflict between young people in the classroom).

In criminal justice, restorative processes give victims the chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime, to get answers to their questions, and an apology. It lets offenders understand the real impact of what they’ve done, to take responsibility and make amends. Restorative justice holds offenders to account for what they have done, personally and directly, and helps victims to get on with their lives.

Alongside criminal justice, restorative processes are increasingly being used in schools, care homes and the wider community to address conflict, build understanding and strengthen relationships with young people. In these contexts it is also known by the names 'Restorative Approaches' and 'Restorative Practices'.

All restorative work is underpinned by principles and best practice, building on a strong evidence base (see below).
 

10th Dec 2010 | Community Justice Panel

Further Reading about Restorative Justice

• Best Practice Guidance for Restorative Practice (2011)

  The Best Practice Guidance is the foundation of quality standards in restorative practice and ..

  16th Feb 2011 RJC - 463
• Principles of Restorative Processes, December 2004

  Principles of Restorative Processes, December 2004 Processes 1/ Primary aim to ..
• RJ Models

  Information on the RJ models most used in the UK