News & Announcements
Inmates in Michigan prisons, assisted by experts from some of the state’s most important universities, are studying and applying restorative practices in a growing effort to transform themselves, the Michigan corrections system, and their families and communities. They are even working to improve relationships between other inmates and prison staff.
IIRP student Kevin Jones was presented the Martin Luther King. Jr., Human Relations Award, from the Bloomington, Indiana, Human Relations Committee, on January 14, 2017. Kevin Jones is “a truly selfless individual, who never fails to see hope and possibility in all children, despite what challenges they have." That’s what the judges wrote about Kevin when presenting him with the Martin Luther King. Jr., Human Relations Award, from the Bloomington, Indiana, Human Relations Committee, on January 14, 2017.
If you are a victim of crime or an offender, please participate in a survey to assist in the creation of a new Pan London Restorative Justice Service.
In his foreword to a new book, Restorative Practice Meets Social Justice: Un-silencing the Voices of “At-Promise” Student Populations (Normore & Lahera, 2017), the IIRP's second president John W. Bailie, Ph.D., argues that we need to restore the alignment of education philosophy and practice to a basic human blueprint for how we're hardwired to connect.
I’ve come to believe that the things that are most true in life are very simple and easy to understand. They are simply hard to consistently put into practice. The basic truths of human relationships are the same today as they were 20, 200, or even 2000 years ago. We want to live with dignity and respect. We all crave belonging and community. We want to be loved, heard, known and understood by those around us. We want the freedom to explore, create and take personal risks. And we want the certainty that there are at least a few people in our lives likely to catch us if we fall. At an intuitive level, we know that how we are treated is more important than whether or not we get the outcomes we want.
IIRP Founder Ted Wachtel argues that the strategies and philosophy of restorative practices – as applied in justice and schools, families and communities – can spark and unite a movement toward a more just, democratic and participatory society.
As restorative practices gains a foothold in the fields of justice, education, social work and organizational management, practitioners and theorists seek to widen the frame to address larger societal issues, as well.
To this end, the IIRP Europe Conference, “Conflict in Europe: Meeting the Challenge,” (9-10 May 2017) will address significant issues manifesting in the current world climate, including radicalization, immigration, the disruptive impact of political movements, and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Community Service Foundation's (CSF's) Restorative Reporting Centers, a model program of the International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School, was named Community-Based Program of the Year by the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission, at the 2016 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice, in Harrisburg, on November 3.
At Restoring Community: 21st World Conference colleagues from nine countries experienced rich learning about how to better serve children, youth and families and address conflict.
“The IIRP exists to provide a platform for new and innovative voices in the field of restorative practices to be heard.” —IIRP President John Bailie, Ph.D.
Click to view the list of breakout session presentations below.
Restorative Works Year in Review 2025 (PDF)
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