Ministry of Justice evaluation: implementing restorative justice schemes (Crime Reduction Programme) third phase report

This research published by the Ministry of Justice shows that 85% of victims and 80% of offenders were satisfied with their experience of a restorative justice conference.

It is the third report from the evaluation of three restorative justice schemes funded by the Home Office under its Crime Reduction Programme from mid-2001: CONNECT, the Justice Research Consortium and REMEDI.

The report also showed that:

  • 78% of victims who took part in restorative justice conferences said they would recommend it to other victims.
  • 90% of victims who took part in restorative justice received an apology from the offender in their case; as compared with only 19% of victims in the control group.
  • Only six victims, and six offenders, out of 152 offenders and 216 victims interviewed, were dissatisfied with the restorative justice conference after taking part.
  • Around 80% of offenders who took part thought it would lessen their likelihood of reoffending.
  • Victims who had been through a restorative justice conference were more likely to think the sentence the offender had received was fair, than victims in the control group who did not participate.
  • This research compares with just 33% of victims who think the criminal justice system meets their needs; and 41% of victims who think the system brings offenders to justice (British Crime Survey 2004-05).

See the first year report

See the second phase report

See the final report

See a summary

Resource themes: 
Criminal justice
Resource categories: 
Criminal Justice - Adult, Policy - Government, Research