<P> There are four stages to a Family Group Conference; each stage of the process has equal importance . No stage should be ignored or treated with less validity than another . </P> <P> Stage 1: Information and advice </P> <P> Stage 2: Presentation, where the police make their case, and the victim has to agree to what has been stated . </P> <P> Stage 3: Discussion and negotiation, where everyone gets involved and has their say as to what the outcome should be . </P>

The family group conference method is usually used for habitual violent offenders