The vast majority of offenders and victims who participated in a scheme that brought them face-to-face said they would recommend the process, a report said today.
Youth conferencing is designed for children aged between 10 and 17 who are referred by the Public Prosecution Service or by a youth court on conviction to help them understand and make amends to their victims for the consequences of their offending and to take steps to stop future crime.
An independent evaluation of the Youth Justice Agency's youth conferencing service showed 86 per cent of those who took part were male and 77 per cent were aged between 14 and 16.
According to the findings of a team from Queen's University Belfast's Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, some 92 per cent of the young people and 78 per cent of victims who participated in the conferences believed they helped the offender realise the harm they had done.
The vast majority of offenders and victims said they would recommend the process.
The process involves victims, the young person's family, the police, the community and supporters who reach an agreed decision on what can be done to put right the harm.
Schemes have been introduced in the greater Belfast area, Tyrone and Fermanagh, Newry, Armagh and Banbridge, with the rest of Northern Ireland due to be covered by March next year.
PA