Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

HANDBOOK ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMMES
Touchstones for
restorative justice
programmes
A restorative programme is faithful
to its purpose when it:
앫 Holds victims’ involvement 
as central
앫 Ensures preparation and safety
for all participants
앫 Facilitates dialogue among 
persons involved
앫 Strives for reintegration along
with accountability
앫 Ensures adequate resources for
reparation and reintegration
앫 Addresses systemic pressures
toward crime
Source: Sharp, 1998, p. 39

---

6.1 Context for the successful operation of
a programme 
A recent review
55
of restorative justice programmes in several common
law and civil law countries found that there were several identifiable
attributes of the contexts in which successful restorative justice pro-
grammes operate. A facilitative context for a restorative process is one
which tends to be characterized by:
앫 A strong and sustained impetus for reform;
앫 A common ideology among those pressing for action;
앫 Open-mindedness and the political will of successive governments;
앫 Attention to practical detail in the formulation and implementation
of the chosen interventions;
앫 A combined and continuing effort on the part of all relevant agencies;
앫 Reliance on validating research from the outset;
앫 Sound financial planning and support;
앫 Inclusiveness;
앫 Supervision by a responsible coordinating agency.
Most programmes, particularly those which lead to criminal justice
decision-making, need to operate within a framework of procedures,
71
6. Programme
operation
55 
Miers, 2001, p. 80.

---

72
precautions and values which have primarily been developed for criminal
justice.
56
This means thinking hard about the suitability of cases, about
promoting appropriate referrals, or about privacy, voluntary participa-
tion, or what informed consent is in a variety of situations.