http://www.youthconferenceserviceni.gov.uk/

The 2002 Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 provided statutory support for restorative conferencing as a response to youth crime. In December 2003, the Youth Conference Service was launched in the greater Belfast area. This website provides an overview of youth conferencing, the scheme in Northern Ireland, and important information for victims and offenders.

The Director gives a general overview of the scheme and its development in Northern Ireland.

Welcome offers a bulleted list of the services provided by the scheme.

Background describes the history behind the development of the youth conferencing services, the conference process, types of referrals for youth conferencing, and managing the conferencing system.

What we do provides a brief explanation the Youth Conferencing service and its aims.

FAQs supplies answers to questions raised about conferencing. These include:

• What criteria must be fulfilled before a young person can be referred for a youth conference?
• What is new about Youth Conferencing? 
• What is in it for the victim? 
• Does restorative justice reduce crime? 
• Is Youth Conferencing a soft option? 
• Why restorative justice instead of retributive justice? 
• Relationship with Stakeholders 
• How will you measure your success?

 
Staff provides a diagram of the staff in the Youth Conferencing Service and an explanation of the roles of Youth Conference Co-ordinators and Case Managers.

Publications is a list of different informational materials from the Service. Some of the downloadable items include:

• Youth Justice Conferencing: A Balanced Approach for Youth who Offend and Their Victims. Information Guide
• A Balanced Approach” An Introduction to the work of the Youth Conference Service
• “How it works” a guide for young people who offend
• Preparation Leaflet – The Offender
• Preparing for the Conference (Victim)

Articles on Youth Conferencing is a listing of story summaries with links to full-text from different perspectives. 


April 2006