Restorative Justice (RJ) is a philosophical approach that embraces the reparation of harm and healing of trauma. A central practice of restorative justice is a collaborative decision-making process that includes harmed parties, people who have caused harm, and others who are seeking active accountability by:
- accepting and acknowledging responsibility for causing harm
- repairing the harm caused to harmed parties and the community
- rebuilding trust by showing understanding of the harm, addressing personal issues, and building positive social connections
- addressing root causes, systemic inequalities, and social injustices that create the conditions in which harm occurs
In educational communities, restorative practices include three tiers of intervention:
Tier I
Restorative circles for community building and improving campus climate
Tier II
Restorative conferences for incidents of harm
Tier III
Restorative circles for effective reintegration after separation
Learning Outcomes
Understand the philosophy and practice of restorative justice from an ethical and philosophical consideration of the goals and consequences of various approaches to punishment.
Distinguish various applications of RJ from a cross-cultural perspective.
Demonstrate familiarity with the research on restorative justice including the criteria used for the assessment of restorative programs.
Assess the strategies and effectiveness of restorative justice implementation through critical assessment of grassroots (bottom-up) and administrative (top-down) initiatives.
Understand the relationship between theory and practice of restorative justice.
Distinguish and apply various restorative practices, especially circles and conferencing.
Demonstrate competence in the restorative process from pre-dialogue preparation to dialogue facilitation to post-dialogue mentoring and support.
Develop a strong commitment to facilitation self-reflection and co-facilitator debriefing and support for ongoing skill development.
Create a community of practice for continued learning.
Practice the tenets of restorative leadership and consider one’s role with the larger restorative justice movement.