RESTORATIVE JUSTICE  A DISCUSSION PAPER

Ministry of Justice
New Zealand
John Belgrave
Secretary for Justice

FOREWORD

CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION

• Background
• Definitions
• Purpose of the Paper
• Overview of the Paper

CHAPTER 2 : DEFINING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

• General Definitions
• Common Features of Restorative Justice
• How Does Restorative Justice Operate?
• Is Restorative Justice a System of Justice?
• Key Differences Between the Current Court-Based System and Restorative Justice
• Guilt
• Emotion
• Process
• Relationships
• Central Principles
• Emphasis On Addressing Victims’ Needs
• Involvement of Victim, Offender and Community
• A Consensus Approach to Justice
• Summary

CHAPTER 3 : THE NEW ZEALAND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND RESTORATION

• Introduction
• The Youth Justice System
• The System for Adult Offenders
• The Police Adult Pre-Trial Diversion Scheme
• Pre-Sentence Investigations
• Sentencing Options
• Element of a Sentence
• Summary

CHAPTER 4 : PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

• Introduction
• Crime, Criminals and the Justice System
• Research on Public Opinion and Restorative Justice
• Reparation or restitution
• Mediation and restitution
• Focus Group Discussion Study
• Summary

CHAPTER 5 : THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

• Introduction
• Direct Involvement of the Parties
• Victims
• Offenders
• General
• Community and Family
• Cultural Relevance
• Impact on Conviction and Sentencing
• Reoffending Rates
• Net-Widening
• Private Interest versus Public Interest
• Savings and Costs
• Savings
• Costs
• Summary

CHAPTER 6 : RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESSES : THE MAIN OPTIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND

• Introduction
• Objectives of Restorative Justice
• Existing Provisions
• Potential Developments
• Framework for the Development of Restorative Justice Programmes
• Parallel Programmes
• Integrated Programmes
• Stages of Intervention
• Timing
• Intervention Point
• Pre-conviction referral
• Pre-sentence referral
• Post-sentence referral
• Summary of staging options
• Type of Approach
• Victim-offender mediation
• Conferencing
• Type of Cases to be dealt with
• Selection Criteria

• UNIVERSAL ELIGIBILITY
• AGE OF THE OFFENDER
• OFFENCE TYPE
• SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENCE

• Referral for Mediation
• Delivery Issues
• Provision of Mediation Services

• COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
• GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

• Mediator Issues
• The Status and Monitoring of Mediated Agreements
• Legislation
• Compulsory provision
• Discretionary Provision within Existing Legislation
• Legislate for Discretionary Restorative Justice Procedures
• Options for Comment
• More Restorative Justice ?
• Primary Objective of Restorative Programmes
• Parallel or Integrated Restorative Programmes
• Stages of Intervention
• Type of Approach
• Type of Cases to be dealt with
• Referral of Cases to Mediation
• Delivery Issues
• The Status and Monitoring of Mediated Agreements
• Legislation
• General Comment
• Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY