Measuring the efficacy of probative referral orders on youth offenders and satisfaction among community volunteers.

Referral orders are a relatively new and innovative form of restorative justice in the United Kingdom created specifically for youth offenders between the ages of 10 and 17. These orders are intended to improve the efficiency of the youth justice system and provide better treatment for offenders by transferring adjudication of minor offenses from the courtroom to community settings. Volunteer members then convene panels for the creation and execution of youth offender contracts, emphasizing principles of restoration, reintegration and responsibility. As a newcomer to the field of restorative justice, referral orders are still in their infancy and thus an evolving procedure, and thereby necessitate the need to evaluate their overall efficacy. Questionnaires were administered to panel members (n = 417), covering topics on demographics, opinions on restorative justice, experiences as a volunteer, satisfaction with training and supervision, views on referral order process and suggestions for improvement. Some key findings revealed (1) panel members were generally satisfied with their experiences, enjoyed helping young offenders, (2) believed youth offender contracts were more effective than custodial sentences, (3) considered the process helpful for victims and offenders to reach closure, and (4) called for more education, training, and supervision.