Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

HANDBOOK ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMMES

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Other manuals and tools are also available to facilitate the develop-
ment and implementation of restorative justice programmes in differ-
ent contexts.
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Choice of a model: The choice of an appropriate programme model is one of
the most crucial decisions that will be made when designing a new initiative.
That decision should of course be informed by best practices in the field, but
it must also remain conscious of the parameters and contingencies (legal,
financial, cultural, public attitude, etc.) within which the programme is
expected to operate. Broad consultation at that stage, on the basis of good
information on programming options and their implications, is usually an
excellent place to start. In many countries, this can also be part of the imple-
mentation of a national strategy (with its own sense of direction) based on
national consultations.
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Identifying the needs and struggles of the commu-
nity is usually also a necessary step. Finally, it is important to note that the
most essential features of a new programme will be flexibility and creativity. It
is therefore important to include in the programme design the ability to adapt
to changing needs and circumstances and to learn from its own experience.
The differences between community mediation, family-group conferencing
or community-based processes may thus become progressively obscured.