Publication - Advice and guidance

Restorative justice: policy and practice framework

Published: 12 March 2026
From: Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, +2 more … Director of Justice, Minister for Victims and Community Safety
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Communities and third sector, Education, +4 more … Equality and rights, Health and social care, Law and order, Public sector
ISBN: 9781836917403

Guidance on the practice of restorative justice (RJ) in Scotland in relation to adults and children. It sets out minimum standards and expectations against which RJ practice can be benchmarked, monitored and evaluated to ensure consistent delivery in line with RJ principles.

Supporting documents

External Links.

1 Only indirect forms of RJ where there is no contact between parties should be used in these instances. For example, ‘no send’ letter writing where therapeutic letters are written but are not sent to recipients involved in the case.

[i] Restorative Justice Action - https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/06/restorative-justice-action-plan/documents/restorative-justice-action-plan/restorative-justice-action-plan/govscot%3Adocument/restorative-justice-action-plan.pdf

[ii] Guidance For The Delivery Of Restorative Justice in Scotland - https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2017/10/guidance-delivery-restorative-justice-scotland/documents/00526079-pdf/00526079-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/00526079.pdf

[iii]Education Scotland - https://education.gov.scot/media/oukk1iaf/restorative-approaches-draft.pdf

[iv]Public Health Scotland - https://publichealthscotland.scot/population-health/social-and-economic-impacts-on-health/equity-and-justice/gender-based-violence/

[v]GIRFEC - https://www.gov.scot/policies/girfec/

[vi]Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/1/section/5

[vii]Guidance for the Delivery of Restorative Justice in Scotland - https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2017/10/guidance-delivery-restorative-justice-scotland/documents/00526079-pdf/00526079-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/00526079.pdf

[viii]Restorative Justice (Prescribed Person) (Scotland) Order 2021 -https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2021/40/made

[ix]Delivery of Restorative Justice in Scotland: Guidance (2017) - https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2017/10/guidance-delivery-restorative-justice-scotland/documents/00526079-pdf/00526079-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/00526079.pdf

[x]Trauma-Informed Practice: Toolkit (2021) - https://www.gov.scot/publications/trauma-informed-practice-toolkit-scotland/pages/6/

[xi] Trauma Informed Justice: A Knowledge and Skills Framework For Working With Victims And Witnesses - https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/nes-current/trauma-informed-justice-a-knowledge-and-skills-framework-for-working-with-victims-and-witnesses-launched/

[xii]Key Messages from Children and Young People about RJ - https://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/RJ-KEY-MESSAGES-from-Children-and-Young-People.pdf