Four domestic violence offenders whose victims were their own parents have been the first to be referred to the ACT's newly expanded restorative justice scheme.
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Since November 1, people who've committed family violence and sexual offenders have been eligible to take part in restorative justice, which brings offenders face-to-face with their victims so they can try to repair the harm caused by their crime.
But the first referrals the restorative justice unit has received have all been cases involving parents who are victims of violence from their adult children.
"That's been an interesting development," restorative justice unit manager Amanda Lutz told annual reports hearings on Wednesday.
Three of the cases were referred by the courts, while one was diverted by the Australian Federal Police.
Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury told the hearings opening the program to sexual and violent offenders was a "significant development".
"It's a sensitive and potentially difficult area but also one strongly believe offers some potential for some victims. It will not be suitable for all victims or for every case and that is very clear both in the government's policy direction and in the way the team operate," Mr Rattenbury said.
Since the restorative justice scheme began in 2005, offenders have provided more than $200,000 in reparations to their victims and completed more than 7400 hours of community service at the request of their victims.
From 2005 to 2016 the unit only received referrals for less serious offences committed by juvenile offenders. In February 2016, eligibility was opened up to include adult offenders and more serious offences for both juveniles and adults.
Allowing sexual offences and family violence offences to be referred is the third and final stage of the rollout.
Ms Lutz said the team received specialist training from restorative justice providers from New Zealand and Queensland in preparation for stage three.
The Justice and Community Safety Directorate annual report showed the restorative justice unit received referrals it could not accept in the last financial year that were related to family violence crimes.
There were 260 referrals in 2017-18, with 159 adults and 121 young offenders directed to the scheme.
Of the offences referred, 494 were classified as less serious in terms of maximum potential penalties, while 61 were deemed serious offences, attracting a maximum of 10 years' jail.
The unit decided 81 matters were fit to proceed to conference, with 74 matters finalised in the reporting period.
It rejected 157 referrals - higher than the 141 rejected in 2016-17 - largely due to the unsuitability of the offender.
Sixty-seven conferences were held face-to-face while 17 were held indirectly, either through convenors, by a recording or via a letter.
The conferences included 53 juvenile offenders, 35 adults and 102 victims.
The annual report noted adult matters proceeded to a conference far less readily than juvenile matters, which could be a reflection of community attitudes that older offenders are set in their ways, don't deserve the victim's time or are a threat to the victim.
There were 117 agreements made - 16 of which were not complied with.
The report noted matters referred by the courts that were finalised after a sentence was handed down gave an offender less of an incentive to follow through on their obligations to victims.
Asked whether the program was having a direct impact on recidivism, Ms Lutz cited an Australian National University and Institute of Criminology study that showed young people who took part took longer to commit another offence.
However she said it was not a panacea for re-offending, with the ACT's return-to-custody rate increasing from 38.6 per cent to 44.2 per cent in the reporting period.
"As a component in a system that needs to be integrated it can be a real accelerator of empathy, accountability," Ms Lutz said.
"There also needs to be other things either in the community or in the suite of corrections programs available to be more of a dedicated rehabilitation offender program."
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. You can call the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on (02) 6247 2525. In an emergency contact 000.
