Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

4.5 Leadership, organization and 
programme structure
The development and implementation of effective restorative justice pro-
grammes requires effective leadership and a strong management team. As
well, there must be a cadre of professionals in the criminal justice system
and key individuals in NGOs and the community who can be tasked with
developing and implementing the agreements, sustaining the partnerships,
chapter 4
From principles to practice: implementing restorative justice programmes
47 
Aertsen, et al., 2004, p. 47.

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and assuming responsibility for the ongoing operation of restorative 
justice programmes. Every level of the organization must be clear about
the objectives.
Leadership is required to help criminal justice personnel and stakeholder
groups within the community alter their perceptions of “justice” and how
justice is best achieved. This requires thinking “beyond the box” and
extending the range of the justice system’s response beyond the reactive,
adversarial and retributive approaches to include such notions as healing,
forgiveness and reintegration. Similarly, for community members,
restorative practices can be viewed as even more effective than traditional
adversarial approaches in holding offenders accountable for their actions
and providing an opportunity for crime victims, and the community, to be
directly involved in the process. The community can be educated to
understand how some well guided participatory and restorative justice
processes may help to build its strength while developing its ability to
resolve various conflict issues. As well, restorative justice processes can
strengthen competencies and enhance important skills among commu-
nity members.
The challenges of creating the conditions within an organization to facili-
tate the introduction of restorative processes should not be underesti-
mated. Changes are required in the structure and culture of criminal
justice organizations to create a supportive environment for restorative
justice practices. This includes the provision for police officers to engage
in restorative problem solving and to focus on peacemaking and conflict
resolution, rather than merely order maintenance and law enforcement.
For judges, it means being authorized to explore the development of alter-
native forums for dispute resolution. A corresponding change is required
in organizational values, including a focus on peacemaking, conflict reso-
lution and community building. This, in turn, requires that criminal jus-
tice agencies and personnel engage in a consultative process with all
stakeholders in the community, e.g. the private sector, non-governmental
organizations, interest groups, to determine the most appropriate pro-
grammes and processes.