Current schemes: The CRJ and NIA, out to 'restore' justice, employ very different tactics
There are two main groups of restorative justice schemes in Northern Ireland, reflecting the political and sectarian divide.
There is near universal support for the concept of restorative justice which has swept across many western societies in recent decades. Political parties, commentators and academics support intervention at local level to deal with local problems before they escalate into something more serious.
However, such unanimity has broken down in Northern Ireland and the matter is now a key political issue which is embroiled in the wider debate about support for the PSNI and overhaul of the North's criminal justice system.
Community Restorative Justice Ireland (CRJ) is based in Andersonstown, west Belfast and operates some 15 local projects in nationalist areas across the North.
Northern Ireland Alternatives (NIA) has four projects in loyalist communities in greater Belfast. Both were begun by ex-prisoners and are supported by volunteers.
NIA and CRJ work to "restore" justice in cases of low-level crime and other forms of anti-social behaviour. They seek to move away from the severely punitive paramilitary beatings which were a hallmark of local "justice" in their respective communities and to provide non-violent alternatives.
CRJ tries to act as a mediator in local community disputes before they escalate out of hand and provoke violence. NIA's interventionist model relies heavily on youth and community work and provides significant services for victims of crime.
Apart from vastly different political/community backgrounds, the two differ in their attitude to the police.
NIA has police officers sitting on its committees and is more closely associated with other state agencies.
CRJ, on the other hand, operates under a principle of "victim choice" whereby it is up to the individual concerned to deal - or not deal - with the police. CRJ itself has no institutionalised relationship with the PSNI.
Restorative justice schemes in nationalist areas are widely perceived to be linked to the republican movement in general, and to IRA members and Sinn Féin activists.
With schemes in both communities seeking state funding and the Northern Ireland Office beginning a further consultation period, the issue has become intensely politicised, especially on the republican side.
Supporters of CRJ highlight successful intervention in local disputes. But critics - not least the SDLP - accuse it of providing "alternative policing" instead of engaging with the PSNI and even of covering up alleged crime involving republicans.
Potential injustices of NI justice schemes: page 14