Restorative justice
A process that supports someone who has committed a crime to understand the harms their actions caused and to seek to repair those harms.
Estimated impact on violent crime:
Evidence quality:
Cost:
Other Outcomes
Evidence quality
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MODERATE reduction in Reoffending1 2 3 4 5
What is it?
Restorative justice is a process that supports the person who has committed an offence and those affected, to communicate and to seek to repair the harm caused. It is typically a voluntary process for both parties.
Restorative justice approaches are used in a variety of settings, including schools, residential children’s homes, and children’s social care. This summary focuses on restorative approaches in the youth justice system. Restorative justice can take place at any stage of the criminal justice process; as part of a diversionary process, or after conviction and sentencing (see our summaries on informal pre-court diversion and formal pre-court diversion).
A range of activities fall under restorative justice. Those most used for children include:
- Restorative justice meetings, also known as ‘conferences’: this involves a face-to-face meeting between the child who committed an offence and those harmed, facilitated by a trained restorative practitioner.
- Shuttle mediation: this involves a trained restorative practitioner facilitating communication by passing messages, verbally or through letters, between the child who committed the offence and the person harmed.
- Community conferences: this is a restorative meeting that involves a child or children who have offended and several members of the community who have been affected by their crime.
- Family group conferences (FGCs): whilst FGCs are used in a wide variety of contexts involving children and families, they can bring together a child who has offended, their family and those harmed by their crime, to discuss the offence and the harms caused, led by a trained facilitator.
- Direct reparations to those affected by the crime: the child responsible for the crime might pay financial compensation to the victim or repair an item damaged during their offence.
- Indirect reparations to the community affected: the child responsible for the crime undertakes restorative activity, such as repairing damaged items, volunteering in a charity shop or helping on a local project that benefits the wider community.
Some interventions are thought to be more ‘restorative’ than others. For example, those that build a deeper understanding of the harms caused and increase empathy in both the person who committed the crime and those harmed may be more ‘restorative’. Whereas completing community service or being ordered by a court to pay financial compensation, without activities that aim to build empathy, may be less ‘restorative’.
There are several theories to explain why restorative justice might be effective. It may help the person responsible for a crime to understand the harm caused. This might increase empathy and prosocial behaviour which may lead to reduced offending. Restorative justice may also prevent any shame felt by the person becoming part of their self-identity. Instead, shame is associated with the offending behaviour, not the value of the person, which may encourage positive behaviour change.
Is it effective?
The research suggests that, on average, the impact of restorative justice on preventing violence is likely to be high.
The evidence suggests that restorative justice may reduce violence by 34%.
The research also estimates that, on average, restorative justice has a moderate impact on reoffending more generally, reducing reoffending by 15%.
How secure is the evidence?
We have very low confidence in our estimate of the average impact of restorative justice on violence.
We gave this rating because our estimate is based on only four studies. Three of these studies are of low quality, and all four were conducted in the USA.
We also have low confidence in our estimate of impact on reoffending. Whilst it is based on 35 studies, 22 of these studies are low quality, only one is high quality, and there was a lot of variation in the results.
Twenty studies were undertaken in the US, four in the UK, nine in Australia, one in the Netherlands, and one in Germany.
Who does it work for?
The review did not find any studies that explored the impact of restorative justice on gender, ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, socioeconomic status or care experience.
How can you implement it well?
Thirty-three studies provided evidence related to implementation, including 10 studies from the UK, three from other countries in Europe, 11 from the United States, eight from Australia and two from New Zealand.
Consider how you will support children to participate
Participating in restorative justice can be a challenging experience. Children might feel anxious about meeting the person they harmed and may find it hard to articulate their views. Undertaking a careful assessment can check that children are ready to take responsibility for the harm they caused, and to identify what support they might need to participate. For example, adaptations to the process or guidance materials may be required for neurodivergent children or for children with speech and language needs.
Provide plain language preparation guides
The child who committed the offence, and those harmed, are more likely to engage fully and to have a positive experience when the process is clearly laid out and they have time to prepare. When family members are involved in restorative justice meetings as supporters of either party, the facilitator should provide structured preparation and support, including setting expectations and providing guidance to maximise constructive participation.
Provide regular training and concise briefings for all agencies involved
Relevant staff across all agencies involved in referrals, delivery and monitoring of restorative justice should be kept up to date on restorative justice principles, policy, and practice. This includes relevant staff across policing, youth justice services, courts, and dedicated roles in schools and the wider voluntary and community sector. Staff delivering restorative justice must receive specialist training and regular refresher training.
Formalise system partnerships
Ensure clear referral protocols, data processes, and information-sharing agreements are in place between the police and youth justice services, and any external restorative justice service providers. The partnership between these key stakeholders should have a formal system in place that includes regular communication to ensure timely and smooth operational flow of referrals, data, and information. The partnership should monitor the characteristics of individuals they support, take up of restorative justice opportunities, caseloads, quality of delivery, and outcomes.
How much does it cost?
On average, the cost of restorative justice is likely to be low.
Cost estimates from current UK restorative justice interventions suggest an average cost of £350 per child. However, as restorative justice is not a standalone intervention, and is delivered as part of a diversion or youth justice package, the full cost of the process or pathway for the child will be higher.
Costs typically include a trained facilitator and a suitable venue for meetings to take place. Costs are likely to vary according to the complexity of the circumstances and the involvement of volunteers.
Topic summary
- Restorative justice is a process that supports the person responsible for a crime, and those affected, to communicate and to seek to repair the harm caused.
- Restorative justice is estimated to have a high impact on reducing violence. The research suggests that these interventions may reduce violence by 34%. However, we have low confidence in this estimate because it is based on only four studies.
- Restorative justice is also estimated to have a moderate impact on reducing reoffending, showing a 15% reduction on average. However, we have low confidence in this estimate because many of the studies informing this average are low quality.
- On average, the cost of restorative justice is low, but these costs vary greatly depending on the interventions provided.
Take away messages
- Offer restorative justice to children who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
- Conduct careful assessments to ensure children are ready for restorative justice, and that they understand what the process involves. Help children to prepare for restorative justice by providing clear guidance.
- Prioritise conferencing and direct mediation.
- Read and act on our Diversion Practice Guidance and our Diversion Systems Guidance to improve support for arrested children.
YEF guidance, projects and evaluations
This is an evaluation of Remedi’s ‘Restorative Justice Mentors’ programme, that works with children and young people who have displayed violent behaviours and/or have committed violent crimes. They facilitate restorative justice interventions between the young person and any identified victims, alongside providing intensive mentoring support for the young person and additional support for their families.
This guidance focuses on what happens to children at the early stages of the youth justice system when they first encounter the police. This includes both schemes that divert children using informal and formal out-of-court resolutions.
This Toolkit strand references the use of restorative justice in informal pre-court diversion schemes, such as community resolutions and deferred cautions or prosecutions.
This Toolkit strand references the use of restorative justice in formal pre-court diversion schemes, including youth cautions and youth conditional cautions.
External links
Restorative Justice and the Judiciary
An information pack produced by Restorative Justice Council on how the restorative justice process operates in England and Wales, the benefits of restorative justice, and case studies.
Restorative Justice Council, Practitioners Guidebook
A guidebook for practitioners on how to carry out restorative justice and the principles behind it.
Restorative Justice Council – Practice Guidance 2025
This provides specialised guidance for different sectors while maintaining specific advice for practitioners working within the complexities of the criminal justice system.
What does the Ministry of Justice Research Tell us?
A summary of Ministry of Justice research on restorative justice, prepared by Restorative Justice Council.