Abstract
The Youth Justice Board and the Department for Education (DfE) share the common goal of reducing harmful behaviour in children and young people. In both sectors, evidence for the effectiveness of restorative justice (RJ) practices is mounting, yet there is little clarity regarding the psychological mechanisms through which RJ works. The voice of young people is documented in the literature through surveys and closed-question response formats. However, an in-depth characterisation of young people’s experiences is largely lacking. In this article, six young people are interviewed about their experiences of RJ. Transcripts are thematically analysed in an inductive manner. Analysis is interpreted in terms of the Empowerment Model of RJ, Responsive Regulation and Cognitive Dissonance Theory. It is suggested that RJ practices are effective because: (a) they empower stakeholders, (b) responses processes are contextually sensitive and (c) they provide frameworks for effectively managing the cognitive dissonance experienced by participants.
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