• Restorative justice is a process of independent, facilitated contact between a person who has been harmed and the person who has caused the harm. It can take a variety of forms and can be initiated by either party. However, it must be an entirely voluntary process for both. It can precede or replace legal proceedings (as a diversion from prosecution) or take place after conviction and before sentencing. It has most commonly been used in youth justice and in relation to less serious offending.
• The needs and interests of the victim are paramount, giving them the chance to explain the impact the crime has had on their lives. In reflection, it also provides the person who has caused the harm an opportunity to consider the impact of their crime. It is not a forum for establishing guilt, but for taking responsibility for one’s actions and their repercussions.
• It is an understandably emotive subject and what ‘success’ might look like is a disputed area. However, when it is well managed it can have lasting benefits for those involved and can help people move on from the harm that has been caused.
• Restorative justice is yet to be embedded in Scotland’s criminal justice system. It currently occurs only in a piecemeal fashion. However, plans are underway for a national roll-out of services, which we support*.

* Restorative justice launch - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)