An alternative to prosecution: A comparative study between restorative service provision in Queensland and Hong Kong

Abstract

The current study aims to examine ways to improve restorative service provision and provide practical implication for future development of restorative justice in Hong Kong, using a documentary comparative study and then supplemented by some interviews with restorative justice practitioners in Queensland and Hong Kong. The results show that the restorative service provision in Hong Kong is still immature when compared to the Queensland system which has adopted the restorative justice measures into the mainstream of criminal justice system. The information collected from several key literatures and interviews are discussed with some precise figures and tables. Lastly, short-term and long-term practical implications are provided regarding the challenges which were raised by the interviewees.