Restorative justice in child victims: A review of the empirical evidence

Abstract

This study is a review of publications which have presented empirical results on the psychological outcomes of restorative justice in child victims. Children constitute one of the most victimised groups in society, and they are also at a heightened risk of secondary victimisation within the legal system. Few studies to date have assessed the possible benefits of the application of restorative processes to judicial intervention in these cases. The results presented here show that research in this area is still in its infancy. However, although caution is in order, the programs carried out so far indicate that children can benefit greatly from processes of restorative justice and from a philosophy based on its principles which supports the participation of children and youths in the system.