Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

CRIMES (RESTORATIVE JUSTICE) ACT 2004 - SECT 25

Before an offence is referred for restorative justice, the referring entity must ensure that reasonable steps are taken to explain to the eligible offender (in language that the offender can readily understand)––

        (a)     the purpose of restorative justice generally and for the particular offence; and

        (b)     the nature of restorative justice, including the following:

              (i)     the nature of a restorative justice conference;

              (ii)     who may take part in a restorative justice conference;

              (iii)     the nature of a restorative justice agreement; and

        (c)     that the offender may seek independent legal advice about taking part in restorative justice; and

        (d)     that no-one is under an obligation to take part, or continue to take part, in restorative justice after it has started; and

        (e)     if the offender has not entered a plea in relation to the offence—that the offender is not prevented from pleading not guilty to the offence only because section 19 (1) (b) (i) applies to the offender; and

        (f)     if a sentence-related order has not been made for the offender—that, if the offender is found guilty of the offence, a court, in sentencing the offender—

              (i)     may consider whether section 19 (1) (b) (i) applies to the offender, but is not required to reduce the severity of any sentence as a result; and

              (ii)     must not consider whether the offender has chosen not to take part, or not to continue to take part, in restorative justice.