A history of restorative justice in Scotland: The evolving nature of an innovation in criminal justice policy and practice

Abstract High‐level political support for restorative justice in Scotland is at its strongest for many years, and yet its availability is lower now than in the mid‐2000s. To explore the reasons behind this paradox, we undertook an oral history project focused on the origins and development of restorative justice in Scotland. Based on 15 interviews with professionals, we tracked how the nature, objectives and scale of restorative justice has evolved in Scotland over time. Our analysis shows how the meaning and purpose of justice initiatives can shift, providing insight into policy development and broader debates about the role of justice responses.