Victims satisfied with restorative justice
A new survey conducted in 2021 shows the majority of victims of crime who take part in restorative justice conferences continue to be satisfied with the process.
Restorative justice conferences are face-to-face meetings where victims can tell offenders how the crime affected them, and where offenders can take personal responsibility for their actions.
The 2021 Victim Satisfaction Survey survey involved interviews with 259 victims who took part in restorative justice processes between July 2019 and June 2020.
77% of respondents surveyed (i.e. victims of crime or their representatives) were satisfied with the restorative justice conference they took part in. The survey also found that 78% would likely recommend restorative justice to others in similar circumstances.
76% of respondents who took part in the survey were satisfied with their overall experience of the restorative justice process – before, during and after the meeting – with even higher satisfaction among Māori (84%) and Pasifika (88%).
Previous restorative justice process surveys took place in 2011, 2016 and 2018. The now biennial survey was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restorative justice service disruptions. The next survey will be run in 2023.
Read the 2021 Victim Satisfaction Survey report [PDF, 1.4 MB]