Guyana's Restorative Justice Resolution Rate Rises to 85% in 2026

According to the Guyana Times, the restorative justice resolution rate in Guyana reached 85% in 2026, marking an increase from 80 per cent, which reflects advancements in resolving matters using restorative justice principles and bolstering the nation's justice framework. This information was shared by William Orrin Boston, the Director of the Restorative Justice Centre in Guyana, at the Restorative Justice Forum for Magistrates and Restorative Justice Officers, which took place at the Sleepin Hotel Conference Room in Georgetown on a Thursday morning.

Boston stated that the forum was organized to promote a mutual understanding of restorative justice, clarify the roles of various stakeholders, and enhance integration throughout the justice system. He emphasized that continuous engagement in Guyana is necessary to cultivate a restorative culture by improving systems and relationships.

He described Guyana's pre-charge restorative justice process as unique, noting that no comparable models exist. Boston suggested that other nations might adopt this approach in the near future, stressing the importance of key stakeholders conducting their own research to build and develop a strong national pre-charge restorative justice mechanism.

Boston provided figures indicating that there are currently nine operational centers in Guyana. He projected that by the close of 2026, there should be 11 centers operational. Currently, the system serves 34 out of 53 courts in Guyana, but by the end of 2026, it is anticipated that 49 of the 53 courts will be served.

Boston also highlighted other recent enhancements to Guyana's restorative justice system, specifically the establishment of restorative justice centers. He mentioned that the referral process from the court began in March 2025, even without a substantial public relations program. By the end of December 2025, 73 cases were referred to the center, achieving an 80 per cent success rate with no reported recidivism. In 2026, Boston noted that, as of the previous day's record, the confidence in the center had evidently grown without a major PR effort.

He added that there were 204 cases recorded from the magistracy, and the most encouraging development was the movement of the resolution rate from 80 per cent to 85 per cent, although one case of recidivism had occurred.

Boston mentioned that a pilot workshop was scheduled for the following week to support potential service providers identified through a preliminary national referral pathway directory currently under development.

Furthermore, after considering factors such as geography, the number and locations of courts, and the frequency of court sessions, the number of restorative justice officers is set to increase from 18 to 31 by the end of the year. This expansion aims to extend coverage to 49 of the 53 courts across nine regions.

Meanwhile, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Roxane George called upon Magistrates to consider restorative justice principles as efforts to strengthen the country's restorative justice system continue.

Justice George stated that she urges all Magistrates, and indeed everyone, to give restorative justice principles a chance. She acknowledged that heavy dockets and the need to finalize cases promptly might create pressure for Magistrates to handle cases conventionally, especially with the forthcoming draft Criminal Justice Code setting case completion standards.

She added that adjustments will be made for cases referred for restorative justice application, similar to allowances made for the extended duration of drug treatment cases.

Justice George also pointed out that promoting wellness is crucial in a society facing various struggles, asserting that the courts have a significant role in addressing these issues.

She explained that in addition to expanding drug treatment courts and moving toward full implementation of mental health courts, the judiciary intends to explore introducing wellness courts. This initiative is designed to offer more people-centered, problem-solving methods for individuals appearing before the courts.

Finally, she commended the Attorney General for championing the Restorative Justice Act 2022, which aims to address crime through a more reconciliatory method. She noted that this legislation furnishes judicial officers with an additional tool, within a structured framework, to apply restorative justice principles.