The number of cases referred for a restorative justice assessment has tripled since 2014, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

She says this follows changes to the Sentencing Act 2002 in December 2014 that requires courts to refer eligible cases for an assessment to see whether restorative justice is appropriate.

Data from 2008 to 2013 shows the reoffending rate for offenders who participated in restorative justice was 15% lower over the following 12-month period than comparable offenders, with 26% fewer offences per offender, Ms Adams says.

"Restorative justice won't work for every case but it's making real inroads into reoffending."

Ms Adams says the 2016 Budget included an increase in funding of $16.2 million over the next four years for restorative justice.