Addressing the British Council of Human Rights on Thursday, she said: "We cannot expect prison to solve the problems of society. In some cases, custody will have to be used. But for most young offenders, we need to find better solutions."
According to Home Office figures, pilots for restorative justice programmes showed a decrease of 38 per cent in terms of re-offending rates.
"It is vital we reform and reintegrate these young people into the community, and welcome restorative justice and other community-based measures for juvenile offenders," she said.
Restorative justice takes place through court referrals for minor offences by juveniles, who meet with local YOT groups, members of the community and, in some cases, the victims of the crime, in order to discuss their behaviour and sign a contract of measures to stick to. If a young person breaks the deal, he or she will be sent back to court for sentencing.
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