Justice
The New York Times quotes Dr. Keith Jensen, co-author of a study showing young children have a sense of justice: "[G]iven a choice [toddlers] would rather restore things to help the victim than punish the perpetrator."
Law Street examines "How Can Restorative Justice Change the Criminal System?" illustrated with a number of embedded videos.
Restorative justice pioneer Howard Zehr was “roasted” during a celebration of the anniversary edition of his groundbreaking book, “Changing Lenses.”
The Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy and the Police Foundation will host a free 2-day symposium at George Mason University, August 17-18, including one session on "school safety, bullying and prevention."
In “Seven Roads to Justice for Superheroes and Humans,” Mikhail Lyubansky examines various aspects of justice through the lens of his favorite superheroes but is left wondering where the restorative superheroes might be.
Canada's Truth & Reconciliation Commission issued its final report on aboriginal "residential schools." The Introduction to the full report states, "The relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples is not a mutually respectful one. But, we believe we can get there, and we believe we can maintain it. Our ambition is to show how we can do that."
In "Juvenile Justice and the War on Teens," Bob Koehler provides a prècis to a Cook County, Illinois, report, and comments, "Change to the system must be profound."
A man who describes himself as "the first victim of restorative justice" raises questions about sexual violence and the needs of victims in any restorative process.
A call for presenters has been issued for the final conference of the ALTERNATIVE project, “Justice and Security in Intercultural Europe: Exploring Alternatives,” to be held November 16-18, 2015 in Leuven, Belgium.
The Community Restorative Court, a pilot restorative justice program in Madison, Wisconsin, will work to divert first-time low-level offenders ages 17-25 years old from the criminal courts.
In "Making work practices safer," an opinion piece in the Wanganui, New Zealand Chronicle, the writer asks,"The hunter who accidentally shoots his mate; the farmer whose share-milker rolls a quad bike; the contractor whose driver slips off the side of a hill ... should a courthouse be the first stop for them? Or are we better to have a facilitated on-the-record discussion between represented parties aimed at a rules compliant safer future?"
In discussing a restorative justice pilot for adult survivors of sexual assault that will launch in Victoria Australia, the program's managers comments," I can say 80 to 90% of the conferences with victims I have run have been successful."
In a Colorado restorative justice pilot program, the case of a boy who brought a knife to school was successfully resolved with a restorative conference. Legislator Pete Lee says that there is something for everyone: "Fiscal conservatives save money. Libertarians create a less intrusive and bureaucratic justice system. Liberals promote rehabilitation and give young offenders a chance to change."
A new film by U.K.'s Restorative Justice Council, A Victim's Guide to Restorative Justice, explains the options for requesting restorative justice at each stage of the criminal justice process.
Restorative justice practitioners in Massachusetts work with prisoners, arguing, “hurt people hurt people, but healed people heal people.”
ABC News in Austin, TX, reports that police, schools and courts are turning to restorative justice as alternative to punitive measures.
School
Listen to two Edspiration podcasts, presented by the International School Climate Institute:
- Create accountability and community with Restorative Practices: IIRP Instructor Steve Korr talks about how school disciplinarians can change the conversation with parents and shares tips for building relationships in the classroom.
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How leaders CAN change a school climate: Jonathan Cohen, Ph.D., President of the National School Climate Center and Guest Lecturer this summer at the IIRP, explains how to create a collaborative place where everyone can achieve while feeling physically, emotionally and intellectually safe and supported.
WestEd issues new report after a comprehensive review and survey of experts and practitioners, "What Further Research is Needed on Restorative Justice in Schools?" [updated link coming soon - please check back]
An Education Week Research Center survey of more than 500 teachers and school-based administrators finds that "two thirds of respondents (67 percent) perceived that social and emotional learning is 'very important' to student achievement."
VOYCE (Voices of Chicago Youth in Education), the activists behind SB 100, a bill that addresses the school-to-prison pipeline, wait for the governor of Illinois to sign the law (audio and text). Also, the Chicago Teachers Union is "advocating for the institution of restorative practices system-wide."
The Dignity in Schools Campaign applauds the New York City Council for ensuring $2.4 million for the implementation of restorative practices in schools.
The Pittsburgh Board of Education approved George Brown, Jr. as the Chief of School Safety, the second African-American to hold the position. Brown supports all school police being trained in restorative practices as part of Pittsburgh's initiative.
Los Angeles Unified School District increases its investment in restorative justice programs, which it sees as integral to its plan to boost graduation rates, while according to EdWeek, "Advocates tout budget that restricts spending on school police."
In Crossroads Connections, a 4-page publication on youth, sexuality, health and rights from University of Arizona, LGBTQ youth speak out about how the school-to-prison pipeline impacts them.
Student advocate Xilian Sansoucy makes a case for restorative practices in schools, reports Julia Steiny in Education News.
A group of parents, students, educators and community members in New London, CT, presents a well-received report to the superintendent and school board outlining a comprehensive and compelling argument for why and how the district should move away from punishment and toward restoration.
In "Restoring Racial Justice," Fania Davis, Mikhail Lyubansky and Mara Schiff argue that "restorative strategies are emerging to ameliorate racial inequities ... in schools and the justice system."
Suspended for What? video gives voice to a student suspended for fighting a bully, along with his sister, who both talk about the need for a different approach.
A New York City organization offers “peer-led workshops to teach students about the roots of abuse and ways to prevent it, and connects them to social services should they disclose that violence is already a feature of their lives.”
"Student Insights Guiding Districts on Policy and Practice": EdWeek's Evie Blad explores how Reno, Nevada, schools solicited "an honest, student-produced video that featured a series of interviews with students who had dropped out and later returned to school."
Edutopia explores the question, “How Student Centered Is Your Classroom?” and the results sound a lot like restorative practices.
Researchers in South Africa demonstrate that "Disciplining children with corporal punishment may be a ‘quick’ fix," but restorative practices, which requires investment, work better.
The U.S. Justice Department reaches an agreement with Mississippi to end the inappropriate criminalization of school discipline issues.
After witnessing a fight in her special needs class, an Oregon teacher draws on restorative practices to help her class repair the harm (Rehinking Schools).
Sisters in leadership positions in Brooklyn and Buffalo, NY, bring their students together for peer-led restorative practices training.
Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education, in "With Restorative Justice, Students Learn How to Make Amends," examines the use of restorative practices on college campuses, and particularly how these practices were used to resolve the Dalhousie Dentistry Facebook Scandal. Also, a new report commissioned by Dalhousie shows that despite having a sexual complaint process that looked good on paper, it failed in practice. The report suggests that the university needs to make its complaint system more prompt, fair and transparent, and urges other systems and institutions to do the same.
