Restorative Justice Programmes

Restorative justice was introduced on a statutory basis for the first time in the Children Act 2001. There are two restorative justice initiatives provided for in the Act:

• A restorative conference or restorative caution included in the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme. 
• A court-ordered restorative justice conference delivered through the Probation Service.

In a restorative justice conference, a victim can speak directly to a child about the hurt and harm that they have caused. In some cases, there is an agreement on a way that the child can compensate the victim or do something positive for the community such as an apology to the victim, financial or other reparations to the victim or an initiative with the child’s family and community that might help to prevent re-offending.