Practical considerations in the implementation of further restorative justice programmes for juvenile offenders in Hong Kong

Abstract

Despite some initial interests in and recommendations for further implementing restorative justice (RJ) programmes to deal with juvenile offenders, the Hong Kong Government has rejected such an agenda being moved forward. This article reports on the findings from a small-scale, qualitative study that examined various obstacles hindering the implementation of RJ programmes in Hong Kong. It explores, from the perspectives of 12 professional practitioners who have experience dealing with juvenile offenders or who have been a part of the Hong Kong justice system, the desirability and feasibility of introducing RJ as an alternative form of dispute resolution for juvenile offenders. The views and ideas of these practitioners provide insights into the practical difficulties of establishing RJ in Hong Kong. These difficulties mainly involve a lack of resources and expertise for setting up RJ components within the existing criminal justice system.