The National Center on Restorative Justice’s Restorative Justice Laws Database was created as a resource for restorative justice advocates, practitioners, and researchers as well as policy-makers across the United States. Our aim is to organize and display in an easily navigated format the ways in which states have codified the use of restorative justice approaches.
Thank you to Shannon Sliva (University of Denver) and Thalia González (UC Law San Francisco) for their advisement and expertise throughout the process of creating this database. Thank you to Karen Sheu and Anna VanRoy for their data collection work.
This Restorative Justice Laws Database builds on an earlier legislative directory created in 2014 by Shannon Sliva in partnership with Carolyn Lambert (Georgia State University College of Law) and hosted by the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work from 2019 to 2024.
The laws included in this database were identified by conducting a search in Westlaw and LexisNexis using the terms visible under “Form of Practice” in the database search options below. Only laws that feature one or more of these terms are included in the database. Use of the terms in the text of the law does not necessarily mean that restorative justice practice is occurring in the given jurisdiction.
The NCORJ is committed to continuing to update this database. If you see something that is missing or a correction is required, please be in touch. For more information about the development of the database, to get assistance navigating it, or to request a copy of the raw data for research purposes, please contact Lindsey Pointer (lpointer@vermontlaw.edu).
2. The program shall be designed to implement and operate community-based restorative justice projects including, but not limited to: preventive or diversionary programs, community-based intensive probation and parole services, community-based treatment centers, day reporting centers, and the operation of facilities…
the Committee found that these programs have proven successful in significantly reducing incarceration rates and the risk that offenders will reoffend;
(1) The purposes of the restorative justice grant programs are to: (a) promote the use of restorative justice practices throughout the state; and (b) provide technical assistance to local and state jurisdictions and organizations interested in implementing the principles of…
participation in a restorative justice program approved by court order and payment of a participation fee of up to $150 for program expenses if the program agrees to accept the offender;
Sentencing practices should promote and support practices, policies, and programs that focus on restorative justice principles.
As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:– “Community-based restorative justice program”, a voluntary program established on restorative justice principles that engages parties to a crime or members of…
(b) Money in the fund shall be subject to appropriation. Money in the fund shall be expended for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this chapter by the commission and by the department of agricultural resources for the implementation, administration…
Participation in a community-based restorative justice program shall be voluntary and may be available to both a juvenile and adult defendant. A juvenile or adult defendant may be diverted to a community-based restorative justice program pre-arraignment or at any stage…
A person shall not be eligible to participate in a community-based restorative justice program prior to conviction or adjudication if that person is charged with: (i) a sexual offense as defined in section 1 of chapter 123A; (ii) an offense…
(a) There shall be established a restorative justice advisory committee to review community-based restorative justice programs. The advisory committee shall consist of 17 members: 1 of whom shall be: the secretary of public safety and security or a designee who…