Try the political quiz
@ISIDEWITHQuestionsCriminal IssuesStarted 2yrs agoActive 3 days ago

Should the government implement restorative justice programs as an alternative to incarceration?

Restorative justice programs focus on rehabilitating offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community, rather than through traditional incarceration. These programs often involve dialogue, restitution, and community service. Proponents argue that restorative justice reduces recidivism, heals communities, and provides more meaningful accountability for offenders. Opponents argue that it may not be suitable for all crimes, could be perceived as too lenient, and may not adequately deter future criminal behavior.

+
Expand
+ Settings

Toggle voterbase

Statistics are shown for this demographic

Answer Overview

Response rates from 2.9k Australia voters.

63%
Yes
37%
No
50%
Yes
29%
No
13%
Yes, but only if the crimes are non-violent
8%
No, provide restorative justice programs in addition to incarceration, not as an alternative

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 2.9k Australia voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart... 

Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 2.9k Australia voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart... 

Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from Australia voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @BDGNHY3answered…2mos2MO

No, only for youth offenders

 @BDGMVDWanswered…2mos2MO

There should be a program for young children (first offenders)

 @BDDTHNQanswered…2mos2MO

build more prisions and stronger punishment no bail

 @BD2FTK6answered…2mos2MO

No, form incarceration around restorative justice rather than replacing it and emulate the nordic model.

 @BC6ZDB4answered…3mos3MO

No! It's a waste of time and money. Criminals will do and say whatever they think will help them reduce their prison sentence.

 @B57NYYHanswered…1yr1Y

Yes/No; where appropriate, restorative justice programs may serve as a viable alternative, or addition, to incarceration. Nevertheless, this alternative approach should not be applicable to all offenders, and only offered after extensive judicial deliberation, with the consent of the victim(s) of crime, or an applicable/assigned spokesperson.

 @B4VFVGKanswered…1yr1Y

Yes, those who are set for incarceration should be given the option to go to the armed forces to learn discipline, training and community service for the duration of their sentence

 @B2J939Lanswered…1yr1Y

Yes, but it depends widely if the person should get it based on multiple different factors such as the reaso for the crime and the crime itself,

Popular Conversations

Join in on the most popular conversations.

Active 4wks ago

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...…2yrs2Y

Do you support the government calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza?

Yes

▲  1.4k6 replies5 disagree

About This Data

Based on 2.9k responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

Read Our Full Methodology →

Cite Or Embed This Poll

Writing about this issue? Use the live data and link back to the full results.

Cite This Poll

iSideWith. (2026). “Should the government implement restorative justice programs as an alternative to incarceration?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://australia.isidewith.com/polls/5139245913

Embed The Live Result

Preview