Restorative Justice and Youth Justice in England and Wales: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

This article analyses the emergence and impact of restorative justice within youth justice in England and Wales. It critically examines progress that has been made, highlighting how restorative initiatives have been largely targeted towards ?diversionary? applications, low level offending, or first time offenders. It contrasts developments and research evidence from other jurisdictions, which have incorporated restorative justice within youth justice and applied it as a mainstreamed approach to sentencing. The benefits and difficulties of delivering restorative justice within criminal justice are considered, as well as factors which appear to have impeded its development within youth justice England and Wales. Broader implications for the development of restorative programmes in other jurisdictions are considered, in the light of the experience of England and Wales.