Restorative justice in youth offending teams information pack launched

The Restorative Justice Council (RJC) has published an information pack on restorative justice in youth offending teams (YOTs). The information pack is intended to support YOTs in making greater use of restorative approaches.

The pack features articles showing the benefits of restorative justice as well as articles from those who are pushing at the boundaries of restorative justice work with young people. It includes accounts of restorative justice from the point of view of practitioners and case managers, demonstrating the benefits it can bring to their work with young people. But most importantly it also includes the voices of young people who have offended and victims who have taken part in a restorative justice process.

The pack also features a foreword from The Rt Hon the Lord McNally, chairman of the Youth Justice Board (YJB). Lord McNally underlines the commitment of the YJB to restorative justice saying: “[Restorative justice] represents a return to the wisdom of viewing conflict, and the consequences arising from it, as an opportunity for individuals to learn and grow from their actions.”

Jon Collins, RJC CEO, said: “Although restorative justice has become a part of the work of most YOTs in England and Wales, it is sometimes seen as an add-on to their core work of rehabilitating young people. In truth, restorative justice is an essential part of the process. Our vision is for restorative justice to take a central role in the work of every YOT, with every victim and offender offered the chance to take part. We hope this resource will help to make this vision a reality.”