Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

7.1 The need for programme monitoring
and evaluation
Despite the proliferation of restorative justice programmes worldwide
over the past few decades, it is only in recent years that evaluation studies
have been conducted. This makes it difficult to determine the effective-
ness of the restorative approaches that have been developed. It also hin-
ders a discussion of the conditions that support or limit programme
effectiveness. This has precluded the development of anything more than
a tentative list of evidenced-based “best practices” to guide the develop-
ment and implementation of new programmes. 
To provide for the possibility of a systematic evaluation, the data needed
for evaluation purposes be identified and gathered on a systemic, ongoing
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7. Programme
monitoring and
evaluation

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basis, starting early in the development of the programme, even before the
programme is implemented. Programme performance standards and tar-
gets must be set and monitoring mechanisms put in place.
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Both statistical and qualitative information should be gathered as part of
the monitoring process. Statistical information that can be gathered might
include:
앫 The number and types of cases referred to the restorative pro-
gramme (including the nature of the offence committed);
앫 The sources of the referrals;
앫 The length of time required for case preparation;
앫 The time required to conduct the restorative process;
앫 The nature and contents of the agreement;
앫 The rate of successful completion of outcome agreements;
앫 The rate and type of re-offending among offenders who have par-
ticipated in restorative processes;
앫 The number of volunteers and volunteer hours contributed to
restorative processes;
앫 Information on costs;
앫 The attributes (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity) of crime victims, offenders,
and community residents who participate in restorative processes;
앫 The perceptions of participants and their satisfaction with their expe-
rience of the process.
Qualitative data can also be gathered through observation of the restora-
tive process and interviews with parties and other participants in the
restorative process.