Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

HANDBOOK ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMMES
Examples of restorative programmes for youth
The following programmes illustrate the types of initiatives that have been
developed worldwide:
BRAZIL
There are a number of youth-centred mediation and conferencing projects
throughout the country that incorporate the philosophy and principles of
restorative justice.

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chapter 2
The use of restorative approaches
17 
Parker, 2002. 
18 
Newburn  et al., 2001.
19 
Source: Home Office, 2003.
Youth Justice System, Porto Alegre
This system is experimenting with conferencing for young offenders. The
Children and Adolescent Act of 1990 allows the presiding youth court
judge to suspend the legal proceedings for first-time offenders involved in
less serious crimes and for the use of sanctions such as community serv-
ice and reparation. The Porto Alegre youth justice system is piloting the
use of câmaras restaurativas for these offenders.
17
ENGLAND
Youth Offenders Panels
In England and Wales, a widely-used method which has some restorative
features is the “referral order”. Young offenders, aged 10-17, appearing
in court for the first times are referred to youth offender panels (unless
their offence is so serious as to require custody). A panel consists of two
trained members of the community, one of whom acts as the chairperson
and one professional. The panels are attended by the young person and
a parent or guardian. The victim, if any, and a person who may have a
good influence on the young person may also be invited. The panel decides
on an action plan through which the young person can make reparation
and address his or her problems. It meets again at the end of the order
to assess progress. The level of involvement of the victims is, however,
dependent on the way in which the process is explained to them, and so
far, it has been low.
Young persons who offend again may be given a reparation order. The
victim may be invited to meet the offender to express his or her feelings
about the offence and consider what form reparation should take, but the
decision remains with the court.
18
Oxfordshire Youth Offending Team (YOT)
The Oxfordshire YOT aims to consult each victim in every case offering an
opportunity for contact with the young offender, or the chance to decide
the focus of their reparation; and the YOT aims for reparation to form