1 Oct 2013

More restorative justice meetings

10:01 am on 1 October 2013

Restorative justice meetings between offenders and victims will be available in more courts from 1 October. The Government has boosted funding by an extra $4.4 million.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says research has proven the conferences can reduce reoffending.

She says victims can express the hurt they feel to offenders and the victims can hear why an offender committed a crime.

As a result of the extra funding, an extra 2400 meetings will take place in 2014 to 2015.

Smaller courts, such as those in Gore, Dannevirke and Wairoa, will now offer restorative justice.