A similar number of restorative justice conferences, at which the victim gets a chance to confront the offender and is in a position of influence, has been funded for Oamaru as in the past, despite concerns earlier this year they could be reduced.
For the 15 months to September 30, 51 restorative justice conferences were completed in Oamaru.
Over the next nine months to June 30, 38 conferences have been funded. Averaged on a three monthly basis, that is a slight increase.
Offenders can be directed by the court to attend a restorative justice conference if they and victims agree.
In Oamaru, that process is run by the Waitaki Safer Community Trust through Waitaki Turnaround, using a paid co-ordinator and volunteers.
At the conference, the offender faces the victim, who talks about the effect the offence has had, and the offender has a chance to apologise.
There may also be discussion on issues such as compensation or reparation.
The attitude of the offender at the conference is taken into account when sentence is handed down.
The trust's immediate past chairwoman, Elizabeth McCone, said earlier this year it was worried by the downturn in cases due to the changed policy for police to issue official warnings.
''We also had the challenge of losing our roll-over government funding based on the number of conferences delivered,'' she said.
The trust had to apply through an open government tender to the Ministry of Justice for a set number of conferences based on the Oamaru court. Before it could do that, Oamaru court figures had to be separated from Timaru's.
Since May, Oamaru had formed a consortium with six other providers - Blenheim, Rangiora, Christchurch, West Coast, Ashburton and Timaru - with a joint consortium contract to deliver a set number of restorative conferences.
''We are vitally interested in retaining the court in Oamaru,'' Mrs McCone said.
The success with the joint contract was due to outstanding support received from several North Otago groups, she said.
