Youth conferencing –implementation of a statutory system of restorative justice in Northern Ireland

Source: (2002) Paper presented at the 2nd International Association of Prosecutors European Regional Conference, held at The Hague, 20-22 March

At the time of this paper, the following options were available to the Youth Court in Northern Ireland against youth who either pled guilty or were found guilty of an offense: youth offenders’ center order (ages 16-21); juvenile justice center order (ages 14-17); custody/probation order; suspended sentence; community service and probation orders; attendance center order; fines, or discharge (either conditional or absolute). The 1998 Belfast Good Friday Agreement led to a systemic review of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, and that led to a recommendation that restorative and reparative justice should become a central part of the criminal process for juveniles. In this context, Stephen Wright discusses the idea of restorative justice. Then he describes the envisioned principles and practice of youth conferencing in Northern Ireland as a major way to implement restorative justice in the juvenile justice system.