Analysis shows restorative justice results in lower reoffending rates, higher victim satisfaction, and more meaningful accountability—yet access remains limited nationwide
Related to: Youth Justice
Washington, D.C. — A new report from The Sentencing Project finds that restorative justice diversion programs deliver better outcomes for both victims and youth than the traditional juvenile court system—reducing reoffending, increasing victim satisfaction, and promoting meaningful accountability. Yet despite strong evidence, access to these programs remains limited nationwide. The report urges states to expand the use of restorative justice diversion, particularly for youth of color.
Key Findings
- Restorative justice diversion works: Restorative justice diversion lowers youth recidivism and the severity of subsequent offenses compared with youth who are punished through the court system.
- Restorative justice diversion centers victims: Rigorous studies show far higher satisfaction and perceptions of fairness, improved mental health, and higher rates of restitution and repair compared with court.
- Restorative justice diversion is proven, but underutilized and underfunded: Only seven states—Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Vermont—provide significant funding or policy support for restorative justice diversion programs
- Inequitable access fuels racial disparities: Unequal use of diversion is a driver of racial disparities in the youth justice system. Black youth are less likely to be diverted than their white peers, so ensuring an equitable application of restorative justice diversion is essential to reducing racial disparities in the youth justice system.
- Restorative justice diversion programs remain rare: Despite their superior results, these programs are unavailable to most youth who could benefit.
What the Evidence Shows
- 97% of victims rated restorative conferencing as good or excellent in the Los Angeles based Centinela Youth Services program.
- 44% lower rearrest within six months for San Francisco youth facing felony charges when they participate in restorative conferencing diversion compared to court.
- 50% lower rearrest rate for Hennepin County (Minneapolis) youth referred to restorative diversion versus court.
- 78% of Nebraska youth referred to restorative diversion completed a conference; 99% of conferences produced a repair agreement.
“The evidence is clear: restorative justice diversion produces more meaningful accountability than the traditional juvenile court process,” said Richard A. Mendel, senior research fellow in youth justice at The Sentencing Project and author of the report. “Unlike the court system, these programs require young people to acknowledge and repair the harm they caused. We know that restorative justice diversion delivers better outcomes for victims, youth, and public safety.”
As policymakers across the country consider how best to respond to youth misbehavior and promote community safety, the report underscores the need to expand access to restorative justice diversion as an effective alternative to court involvement.
To achieve this goal, The Sentencing Project recommends that:
- States provide direct funding to develop and support restorative justice diversion programs in local jurisdictions.
- Local justice systems make restorative justice diversion the default option for most youth at police contact or court intake, and expand eligibility to include youth accused of serious and repeat offenses when victims consent and youth accept responsibility.
- To confront racial disparities in the youth justice system, local justice systems prioritize substantial increases in restorative justice diversion referrals for Black youth and other youth of color.
- Community organizations, foundations, and local governments support local providers and help them offer effective restorative justice diversion programming.