Restorative justice brings those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for the harm into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward. This is part of a wider field called restorative practice.

Restorative practice can be used anywhere to prevent conflict, build relationships and repair harm by enabling people to communicate effectively and positively. Restorative practice is increasingly being used in schools, children’s services, workplaces, hospitals, communities and the criminal justice system.

Restorative justice is seen as a broad approach oriented towards repairing, as far as possible, the harm caused by crime or other transgressions. A core element of restorative justice is active participation by the victim, the offender and possibly other parties (the community).

Much debate exists about which other parties should be involved, and in particular whether criminal justice officials, as representatives of the community or the state, should play a direct role in restorative justice processes.