• Identify the best practices of schemes to be mainstreamed

• Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the elements that are most effective at lowering recidivism and crime. 

Mixed conclusions resulted from this evaluation. The seven programs displayed diversity in 

• the understanding of restorative justice 
• degree of focus on victims or offenders
• the process used.

Questions about satisfaction also returned mixed results. Victims varied on their statement of satisfaction with the system. The most frequent complaint was time needed to complete the process. Two-thirds of victims believed that the intervention did have a positive impact on the offender, while others expressed skepticism of the offender’s motives. On the other hand, offenders showed more satisfaction, although many of them found it very difficult to face their victim.

Effectiveness of the schemes also showed mixed results. In the West Yorkshire adult offender scheme, the findings revealed a significant impact on reoffending despite the high probability of reoffending and serious original offences. However, the West Midlands scheme for adult offenders did not show a significant difference between the control and the test groups.  

The researchers concluded that the schemes could benefit from clearer, more systematic, and more developed understandings of a number of key areas of their design and delivery:

• Aims, organization, staffing, and training
• Referral criteria
• Victim and offender protocols
• Interventions
• Closure, follow up and evaluation.

An International Review of Restorative Justice  provides an overview of the legal base, scope, implementation, and evaluation of restorative justice programmes in several European Jurisdictions:

There is also a section examining programs in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.  The study offers both a detailed descriptions of the implementation of restorative justice in these jurisdictions and an evaluative summary to draw out the similarities and differences between jurisdictions and lessons about best practices.

The report shows a wide variety of programme characteristics in the different jurisdictions. Differences included the legal base, ideological orientations, and extent of development of programmes for dealing with different offender groups. Almost all of the jurisdictions addressed the needs of both adult and juvenile offenders with a difference in the diversionary effect of the programmes. In some jurisdictions (Belgium) the diversion could take place in all stages of the justice process. In others (France, the Netherlands, and Denmark), diversion could only take place at one certain point in the process. The most common points of diversion were pre-trial and sentencing stages.  

In implementing programmes, the most common gatekeeper for the justice system was the public prosecutor. Financial support was split between central and local government with some dependence on charitable giving. Mediation was found to be the preferred form of encounter, including both direct and indirect mediation.  The most common programme goals were to produce an apology by the offender and to gain some form of material reparation for the victim.  

The study named several factors that encourage the success of restorative justice programmes:

• A strong and sustained impetus for reform
• A common ideology among those pressing for action
• Open-mindedness and the political will of successive governments
• Attention to practical detail in the formulation and implementation of the chosen interventions
• A combined and continuing effort on the part of all relevant agencies
• Reliance on validating research from the outset
• Sound financial planning and support
• Inclusiveness
• Supervision by a responsible coordinating agency.

Both reports are useful in demonstrating the promise and popularity of restorative justice. The information provided should be useful for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. 

Miers, David, et al. 2001. "An exploratory Evaluation of Restorative Justice Schemes." Crime Reduction Research Series Paper 9. London: Home Office.

Miers, David. 2001. "An International Review of Restorative Justice." Crime Reduction Research Series Paper 10. London: Home Office.

By Lynette Parker

November 2001