9No obligation to participate

9 No obligation to participate There is no obligation on a victim, a parent of a child victim or an (a) to take part in restorative justice; or (b) to continue to take part in restorative justice after it has started. Note Victims (or their parents) and offenders must be given clear explanations of the purpose and procedures involved in the restorative justice process before agreeing to take part. In addition, the legal status of the process and the legal effect of entering into a restorative justice agreement must be clearly explained to victims (or their parents) and offenders. See the following: • s 25 (Explanation of restorative justice) • s 45 (Explanation for participants) • s 53 (Explanation of effect of agreement).

Section 10 page 6 Crimes (Restorative Justice) Act 2004