Building a Restorative Culture in Prisons - Volume One

In 2016, the Restorative Justice Council published "Restorative Justice in Custodial Settings: Information Pack," outlining strategies for developing internal capacity for restorative justice in custodial environments and creating conditions for external agencies to engage in restorative practices. Building on this foundation, the Council has collaborated with Dr. Katherine Doolin from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, since 2022 to research the implementation and impact of restorative justice in prisons.

This briefing paper, the first in a series, explores the opportunities and challenges of integrating restorative justice within prisons while working towards establishing a restorative culture. It presents insights from research, case studies, and policy developments aimed at informing policymakers and stakeholders—including prison management, staff, and restorative justice practitioners—about the concepts of ‘doing’ and ‘being’ restorative.

Our findings emphasise the distinction between ‘doing’ restorative justice, which focuses on reactive intervention, and ‘being’ restorative, which fosters a proactive culture centred on healing, accountability, and connection.

The insights presented here derive from knowledge-exchange events held between 2023 and 2025 across England, Northern Ireland, and Aotearoa New Zealand. These events included diverse participants such as policymakers, prison leaders, restorative justice practitioners, community organisations, and individuals with lived experience of restorative practices. We thank all contributors for their invaluable engagement.

Key events included "Reimagine Opportunities for Restorative Justice in Prison" at HMP Peterborough in May 2023, and "Restorative Justice in Prisons: Maximising Opportunities to Influence Change" in London in July 2024. Insights gained from discussions at Ulster University in Belfast and our collaborations in New Zealand have enriched our understanding of embedding restorative practices within correctional settings.