The Government strongly support the use of restorative justice given its proven benefits for victims. We published our restorative justice strategy in July 2003, best practice guidance for practitioners was issued in December 2004 and guidance on setting up adult restorative justice schemes was issued to local criminal justice boards in March 2005.
Restorative justice has been a central part of the youth justice system since the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Contact with the victim or reparation can be part of all youth justice disposals, including Final Warnings, Referral Orders, Reparation Orders, Action Plan Orders and Supervision Orders.
We encourage the use of restorative justice in the adult criminal justice system, particularly as a service to victims and it can, for example, be delivered as part of a conditional caution. We are building an evidence base on the impact of restorative justice on re-offending to inform our longer-term strategy for adults.