CRC funded reports

Restorative justice programs in Australia : a report to the Criminology Research Council

• Heather Strang
• March 2001

• Download report as single file (PDF 368kB)

Abstract

This report provides an overview of restorative justice programs in Australia. While a wide range of programs may be broadly labeled 'restorative', the report mainly focuses on programs involving meetings of victims, offenders and communities to discuss and resolve an offence. On a state by state basis, programs are described in terms of their characteristics, implementation and administration, evaluation and relevant publications. While restorative justice programs are generally seen as being most suitable for juvenile offenders, the report also describes the use of conferencing programs for adult offenders in Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Other topics covered include the use of restorative programs in the school setting and in the care and protection setting; problems and some solutions in devising and implementing programs, including the question of restorative justice programs in Indigenous communities and ethnic communities; and the effective extension of restorative justice programs.

Contents

• Introduction
• Restorative programs in the justice setting
  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • South Australia
  • Queensland
  • Western Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • Northern Territory
• Adult conferencing
• Restorative programs in the school setting
• Restorative programs in the care and protection setting
• RJ in other settings
• Problems and some solutions in devising and implementing programs
• Effective extension of restorative justice programs
• References
• Appendix