The Department of Justice has published the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy Fourth Annual Progress Report for 2025/26.
The annual report provides stakeholders with an update on work to expand the use of restorative justice in Northern Ireland. It is the fourth progress report produced under the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy 2022-27.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said the report sets out progress made over the past year in advancing restorative justice. She pointed to several actions, including new practice standards, accreditation work and a diversionary disposal pilot.
The department said the new Practice Standards and Accreditation Framework sets out accreditation requirements and supports consistent, high-quality practice. The minister also referred to the accreditation of new restorative justice organisations and practitioners.
Northern Ireland's first Adult Restorative Justice Strategy was published in March 2022. It was developed with statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations represented on the Restorative Justice Working Group.
The strategy included a commitment to publish an annual report during its lifespan to inform people about implementation progress. A copy of the latest annual report is available through the Department of Justice.
A protocol governing relations between the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System and community-based restorative justice schemes was introduced in 2007. The department said a review of the protocol and its operation was carried out in 2022 by an expert panel, with the aim of increasing appropriate referrals from statutory bodies and expanding restorative practice more generally.