Summary
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Israel chose to first apply this new approach to the justice system for young first-time offenders. Offering these youngsters a way back to a noncriminal lifestyle without carrying the label and stigma of a criminal record is very much in line with current Israel Police policy. The authorities furthermore calculated that the new approach stood a good chance of reducing the worrying and growing number of young offenders. The central institution of the new process is a Family Group Conference (FGC). The concept was first borrowed during the 1980s by New Zealand jurists, from that country’s indigenous Maoris who have employed it for centuries. Various formats of FGC have been effectively employed in other countries: England, Sweden, Canada, USA, South Africa and Australia. (excerpt)
Link: www.mops.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/437506ED-2B6B-45FB-89E9-93A64FE2F1C7/0/RestorativeJusticeforYoungOffenders36_39.pdf
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