Restorative JusticeRestorative JusticeA Positive Intervention

September 11, 2009

Greater Littleton Youth InitiativeLPS

Bill HGB-1129Bill HGB-1129

• In 2007 a bill was passed to create a restorative justice coordinating council that will provide assistance and education related to restorative justice programs in schools, justice systems, communities, and prisons

• This council is strongly encouraged to consider programs with RJ components when developing their plan

Restorative Justice is a paradigm shiftRestorative Justice is a paradigm shift

Instead of:

Focusing attention on an offending student

Directing the discipline

Using exclusion as punishment

RJ :

Widens the lens to include attention to the person harmed and everyone else impacted

Facilitates problem solving

Use restitution to repair the harm

Differences Between Restorative vs. PunitiveDifferences Between Restorative vs. Punitive

Community Conferencing Center www.communityconferencing.org

Punishment Restorative Approach

Alienation - Relationships damaged

(student-educator; parent-educator;

student-student )

Builds relationships

Passive Active

Teaches person what not to do Teaches person what to do

No need to really think about how others have been affected or harmed

Held accountable by learning how actions affected others and by learning how to make things right

Not effective at preventing future incidents

Effective at preventing reoccurrences

Preventative: A Classroom MeetingPreventative: A Classroom Meeting

Provides a safe space for young people to

Express what is on their minds

Come up with their own ideas and solutions

Connect with their classmates and their teacher.

© Community Conferencing Center www.communityconferencing.org

Restorative Methods and Relationship Management in SchoolsRestorative Methods and Relationship Management in Schools

Community Conferencing Center www.communityconferencing.org

Classroom Meeting Outcomes

• Fewer classroom arguments

• New student to student friendships

• Better relationships between teacher and students

• Greater interest in learning

• Commonly disruptive students begin to respond

to minimal direction

Restorative: The Community ConferenceRestorative: The Community Conference

A one time meeting where everyone who is either involved in or affected by a crime or a conflict come together to…

hear what happened learn how everyone’s been

affected decide how to repair the harm

© Community Conferencing Center www.communityconferencing.org

Restorative Methods and Relationship Management in SchoolsRestorative Methods and Relationship Management in Schools

Community Conferencing Center www.communityconferencing.org

FightingAssaults on adultsBullyingGossipingVandalismTheftTrespassingTruancyPossession of a deadly weapon Reintegrating after suspensions

Alternative to suspension and arrest

Community Conferencing is used for…

Restorative Methods and Relationship Management in SchoolsRestorative Methods and Relationship Management in Schools

Community Conferencing Center www.communityconferencing.org

Students are held accountable for their behavior

Suspension can be reduced by 60%

Significantly decreases likelihood of retaliation and re-offending

Builds relationships among students

Builds trust between students, teachers, and administrators

Community Conferencing Outcomes

To Sum it Up To Sum it Up

•By applying restorative measures in schools: school personnel have another tool to use with children and youth to repair harm and teach problem solving skills

•Programs already up and running successfully such as:

Life Skills, Positive Behavior Support, Olweus Bully Proofing, and Restorative Justice all speak the same language and work well together as a discipline system