Low Cost Interventions
21. Restorative Justice Circles
Restorative Justice Circles are facilitated group dialogues that bring together individuals affected by harm (victims, offenders, families, community members) to discuss the impact of the incident, promote accountability, and collaboratively decide how to repair the harm.
Facilitator Training/Certification: £500-£1,500
Circle Materials (talking piece, centrepiece, handouts): £50-£150
Venue Hire: £100-£300
Staff Time: £500-£1,000
Evaluation & Reporting: £1,350-£3,350
Programme Design/Planning: 2-4 weeks
Facilitator Recruitment & Training: 2-4 weeks
Participant Outreach & Preparation: 2-3 weeks
Circle Delivery (1-3 sessions): 1-2 weeks
Evaluation & Follow-up: 2-3 weeks
Annual maintenance cost per site £1,000-£5,000
Covers facilitator refreshers, materials, venue, and ongoing coordination. Optional train-the-trainer models and volunteer networks to reduce long-term costs. Programs can run continuously with trained facilitators and community support.
Effectiveness
Moderately to highly effective in reducing reoffending, and improving victim satisfaction. Associated with 12-24% reduction in youth reoffending, including violent offences. 90% of victims report satisfaction with the process.
Circles promote empathy, accountability, and community healing, especially when facilitated with fidelity and preparation. Most effective when integrated into multi-agency approaches and supported by wraparound services.