Practitioners have also criticised the scheme established to codify the relationship of practitioners with the police saying it is too restrictive because it requires an admission of guilt.
Despite this, CJI officials also found some positive developments and said early intervention in matters like anti-social behaviour, which may not constitute crimes, helped prevent problems from spiralling.
The report said mediators had operated informally, bringing offenders and victims together to repair their differences, often in areas formerly dominated by republican or loyalist paramilitaries.
“CRJI has become an important part of the voluntary and community sector landscape in parts of Northern Ireland and are integrating their activities as part of local community safety networks”, Brendan McGuigan of the CJI added.
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