The YJB has demonstrated its commitment to the development of restorative justice and victim work throughout the youth justice system by setting targets which mandate YOTs to develop restorative approaches and ensure a high level of victim satisfaction across the full range of disposals. The YJB policy is to increase the quality and quantity of restorative justice interventions in the youth justice system.
One of the YJB’s key targets is to increase the satisfaction of victims, year on year. The YJB has set YOTs the target to ensure that victims participate in restorative processes in 25% of relevant disposals referred to the YOT, and 85% of victims participating are satisfied.
Some YOTs are involved in consistently high quality RJ work. However, at present, the quality of RJ service is subject to considerable variation between YOT areas, depending on the knowledge, training, skills and resources available. The YJB is working to enable and encourage all YOTs to achieve high standards in RJ.
Evidence of victim satisfaction, contact and participation
Based on YOTs’ quarterly returns, during 2006-07, 38,574 victims of youth crime were offered the opportunity to participate in an RJ process. Of these, 46% or 17,728 victims chose to participate in a restorative process, and of these 5,952 (1 in 3 of all participating victims) participated in face-to-face RJ. The remainder - 11,776 (2 in 30 participated in indirect, or non face-to-face, RJ.
Of 11,251 victims commenting on their RJ process, 10,964 stated they were satisfied or very satisfied.