6Objects of Act

6 Objects of Act The objects of this Act are as follows: (a) to enhance the rights of victims of offences by providing restorative justice as a way of empowering victims to make decisions about how to repair the harm done by offences; (b) to set up a system of restorative justice that brings together victims, offenders and their personal supporters in a carefully managed, safe environment; (c) to ensure that the interests of victims of offences are given high priority in the administration of restorative justice under this Act; (d) to enable access to restorative justice at every stage of the criminal justice process without substituting for the criminal justice system or changing the normal process of criminal justice; (e) to enable access to restorative justice in relation to offenders and offences not dealt with by the criminal justice process; (f) to enable referral of offences for restorative justice by— (i) agencies that have a role in the criminal justice system; and (ii) entities that have a role in dealing with offenders, and harm caused by offences, not dealt with by the criminal justice process. Note 1 Offence includes an offence that is alleged to have been committed, but has not yet been tried in court, or proven (see s 12). Note 2 Offender includes a person who carries out an offence but cannot be held criminally responsible because of their age (see s 12).

Section 7 page 4 Crimes (Restorative Justice) Act 2004