Adult restorative justice conferencing

An adult restorative justice conference brings together the victim and the offender to talk about how they can address the harm caused by criminal behaviour.

When you need legal advice

Get legal advice if you:

  • have been asked to participate in a restorative justice conference and you're not sure about what to expect
  • have already participated in an unsuccessful restorative justice conference.

How to get legal advice

What is an adult restorative justice conference?

An adult restorative justice conference is a facilitated meeting between a victim of crime and an adult who harmed them (the offender). It enables the:

  • victim to tell their story about what happened and how it has impacted them
  • offender to take responsibility for their actions and try to repair the harm caused.

The conference usually takes about 2 hours, depending on the number of people involved and the harm caused. Participation is voluntary for the victim and offender.

Referring matters for conferencing

Police, prosecutors, the court and Corrective Services can refer a matter for adult restorative justice conferencing at any stage of the criminal justice process.

Potential conference outcomes

The offender may agree to repair the harm they have caused by:

  • writing an apology letter
  • returning stolen property
  • paying for losses that caused the offence, such as property damage or medical expenses
  • providing compensation to the victim
  • participating in counselling or an education course to address their actions
  • making a donation to charity.

Any agreement reached between a victim and offender during a restorative justice conference is recorded in writing.

If the offender completes what they agreed to do, police and the court may take this into account when deciding how to deal with the matter.

If the conference is unsuccessful

The matter will be referred to police or the court to deal with if the offender:

  • doesn’t turn up to the conference
  • doesn’t follow through with what they agreed to do.

Financial assistance for victims

If you’re a victim of crime, you may be able to get financial help either:

  • by applying through Victim Assist Queensland
  • from the offender compensating you through the adult restorative justice conferencing process.

You can't be compensated for the same losses through both processes.

Learn about Victim Assist Queensland

How to get legal advice

We may give legal advice about adult restorative justice.

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Disclaimer: This content is for general purposes only and not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please contact us or speak to a lawyer. View our full disclaimer.

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