Restorative justice referrals surge by more than 22% year-on-year

Restorative justice can help a victim ask questions about what happened, regain a feeling of control, and get closure on the incident, and for the offender to take responsibility for what they have done.

The number of restorative justice referrals in the criminal process surged last year to the highest ever recorded.

Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology, working with the Probation Service and community-based restorative justice providers, found a 22.3% year-on-year increase in referrals for these services, as provision was expanded to several new counties.

“It is great to see data suggesting that judges and probation officers are making greater use of restorative justice,” said Maynooth University associate professor in criminology Ian Marder.

“Restorative justice has a strong evidence base: It can help victims recover from crime, meet victims’ needs, and support people to stop committing crime.

“More investment is required to ensure all victims and offenders are offered the opportunity to participate voluntarily in restorative justice.”

The restorative justice process facilitates a dialogue between those harmed by a crime and those responsible for that crime, with the goal of enabling them to discuss, address and repair the harm that was done, according to the Citizens’ Information website.

This can help a victim ask questions about what happened, regain a feeling of control, and get closure on the incident, and for the offender to take responsibility for what they have done.

It is a voluntary process and only takes place when both sides wish to participate. The process is managed by a facilitator and can take place face-to-face or in writing.

Direct or indirect dialogue

Research is regularly conducted on the process in Ireland, with the latest figures showing that 1,030 cases were referred by courts and the probation service last year  up from 842 referrals in 2024.

In 2025, at least 185 restorative justice processes involved direct or indirect dialogue between victims and people who offended, a 36% increase from 2024.

Of the remaining cases completed last year, many involved offences without direct victims and, in others, victims may have declined to participate or were unable to be contacted.

Furthermore, data supplied by An Garda Síochána’s use of restorative justice with youth cautions suggested a 23.8% increase to 369 cases in 2025.

Services were also expanded last year, with specialist restorative justice provision coming to Donegal, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth.

The Probation Service’s deputy director, Fiona Ní Chinnéide, said that the increase was welcome and positive as it speaks to the impact restorative justice can have for victims of crime and those responsible for causing harm.

She added that, in line with the service’s strategy, it can now be accessed in every county and it is funding more services to further expand its reach.