Restorative justice: policy and practice framework
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.
8. Restorative justice and court proceedings
8.1 As previously mentioned, RJ should not be undertaken when a person who has caused harm does not accept any responsibility for that harm. Where a case has been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), forms of RJ which support any direct engagement between a person harmed and the person who caused the harm should only take place once the criminal justice process has concluded either with a disposal, conviction, or acquittal, or where the prosecutor decides that no action is to be taken. Prior to these only indirect forms of RJ[1] should be accessible if either party wishes to explore those.
Contact
Email: restorative.justice@gov.scot