Restorative justice a postcode lottery? – availability and quality of service

Abstract

Purpose – The reinvigoration of restorative justice (RJ) within criminal justice has brought with it many opportunities but also significant challenges. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current considerations when providing a quality RJ service that meet the needs of victim, offender the community and the criminal justice system. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a personal viewpoint of the author obtained from working nationally in the criminal justice arena specifically advising on RJ to police forces, police and crime commissioners and others. Findings – Findings suggest the provision of RJ in the UK is patchy, and the provision of a quality provision even more of a challenge. Practical implications – Consideration given to the need for quality not to be sacrificed in the advancement of RJ and some of the implications of this. Originality/value – Offers perspectives on the application of RJ in new and rapidly growing arenas.