A convenor facilitates each restorative process, known as a conference.
17 February 2025
In brief:
- Restorative justice is a voluntary process available to victims of crime.
- The process allows victims to meet with the offender.
- This story covers the benefits of restorative justice and how it works in the ACT.
Restorative justice has been available in the ACT since 2005.
It is a voluntary process that supports victims of crime and their families to safely meet with the offender.
The process responds directly to the victim’s needs. It can support their healing and increase feelings of safety.
For victims
Restorative justice gives victims a supported, safe space to:
- be heard
- ask the offender questions about the crime
- discuss ways to make things better.
For offenders
Restorative justice has benefits for offenders too. It is an opportunity for them to:
- take responsibility for their actions
- address the harm caused
- take steps to deal with the underlying causes of their offending behaviour.
How restorative justice works
All ACT offences involving a victim can be referred to restorative justice. Both the victim and offender must agree to take part.
A convenor from the ACT’s Restorative Justice Unit works with participants to make sure any meeting will be safe, meaningful and meet the victim’s needs.
A convenor facilitates each restorative process, known as a conference. The victim, offender and their respective family or other supports are brought together.
The convenor then helps everyone to talk about:
- what happened
- who has been impacted and how
- what needs to happen to improve things.
Conferences can take place in a purpose-built facility. The space ensures privacy, safety and accessibility for everyone.
Conferences can also take place in other safe environments to meet the needs of those involved. This includes online.
An indirect restorative process can also be offered. This involves the convenor supporting an exchange of written statements between participants.
The benefits of restorative justice
In 2023–24, 98 per cent of participants reported they were satisfied with their experience of restorative justice.
A recent evaluation of the scheme’s work with family and sexual violence found:
- restorative justice helped people who were harmed to seek amends from the offender
- offenders could address issues which caused them to offend
- there was wide support for restorative justice as a different pathway for domestic and family violence matters.
The evaluation also found that restorative justice met the needs of victims. These needs included:
- increased feelings of safety
- access to supports
- feeling heard
- regaining a sense of control
- a better understanding of the crime.
Twenty years of restorative justice in the ACT
The ACT leads the nation in this initiative.
It is the only jurisdiction to have a dedicated single piece of legislation – the Crimes (Restorative Justice) Act – and a work unit delivering restorative justice conferencing for all age groups and offences.
The ACT restorative justice scheme has grown over three phases.
- Initially, the scheme took referrals for young people and less serious offences.
- In 2016, the scheme expanded to take referrals for adult offenders, and serious offences for young people.
- Since November 2018, victims of any ACT offence have been able to access restorative justice.
The scheme has been a model for other states and territories, as well as other countries.
Over the last 20 years, the Restorative Justice Unit has received 3,382 referrals. This work encompasses:
- 5,882 victims
- 4,047 offenders (including 3,092 young offenders and 955 adult offenders)
- 7,740 offences.
Visit the ACT Government website to learn more about restorative justice in the ACT.
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