Restorative Justice fourth annual progress report published
Date published:
The Department of Justice today published the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy Fourth Annual Progress Report for 2025/26.
The annual report provides stakeholders with an update on work to expand the use of restorative justice in Northern Ireland.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “This fourth Annual Progress Report provides an update on the progress made in advancing the work in restorative justice over the past year.
Significant actions include the launch of the new Practice Standards and Accreditation Framework, which sets out clear accreditation requirements and supports consistent, high-quality practice; the accreditation of new Restorative Justice organisations and practitioners; and the launch of the Adult Restorative Justice diversionary disposal pilot.”
A copy of the Annual Report can be downloaded at Restorative Justice | Department of Justice
Notes to editors:
1. Northern Ireland’s first Adult Restorative Justice Strategy 2022—27 was published in March 2022. It was developed in partnership with a range of statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations who make up the Restorative Justice Working Group. It contained a commitment to publish a report annually over its lifespan, to inform people about progress made on its implementation.
2. In 2007, a Protocol was put in place to govern relations between the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System and the community-based restorative justice schemes. Given the intervening time, a review of the Protocol and its operation was carried out in 2022 by an expert panel, with the aim of increasing appropriate referrals from statutory bodies and expanding the work of restorative practice generally, in line with the aims of the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy. The revised Protocol is available at the publication section of this website.
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