Benefits

There is now a considerable volume of work internationally evaluating restorative justice programmes. These evaluations have shown a variety of benefits to both people harmed and those who have harmed (as well as for the general public and governments).

Benefits include:

Benefits for people who have been harmed

• Improved health and wellbeing
• Being better able to cope with aspects of life
• Increased feeling of safety and empowerment
• A higher satisfaction rate than those who have taken part in a more formal justice process
• Fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress
• Less fear of victimisation

Benefits for those who have caused harm

• More positive attitudes towards police, law and justice
• Reduced likelihood of further offending

Benefits for the wider community

• Restorative justice results in a highly cost effective reduction in repeat offending
• Communities can become active members in attempting to address harm