Restorative Justice second annual progress report published

The Department of Justice today published the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy Annual Progress Report for 2023/24.

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 second Progress Report is an important update on our work in restorative justice over the past year.   

“Key actions progressed include the development and publication of the new 2023 Restorative Justice Protocol and the appointment of an Interim Protocol Lead who holds responsibility for its implementation along with a new accreditation process.  This work is key to laying foundations for the further integration of restorative justice within the adult criminal justice system”

A copy of the Annual Report is available at the publication section of this website.

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 NI 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 new Protocol can be found at the publication section of this website  

3.           As part of their report, the Review Panel proposed the appointment of an Interim Protocol Lead with responsibility for implementing and promoting the new Protocol and accreditation process.  This appointment was made in February 2024, and work to progress the new Protocol is underway.

4.           For media enquiries contact the Department of Justice Press Office via Email

5.           The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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