Presentation given at the National-Youth-at-Risk Conference.

Program

Restorative justice, defined as “a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations in order to heal and put things as right as possible,” dates back more than 1,100 years as an effective technique to foster caring relationships within a community of people. There is a growing body of research to support a caring and restorative structure that fosters belonging over exclusion, social engagement over control, and meaningful accountability over punishment as an effective way to turn around some of the toughest schools in our nation. This session will provide insight into the moral commitment schools have to their students, how restorative discipline practices can assist in building a campus climate and culture that supports this commitment, and how to facilitate the circle process to cultivate positive relationships amongst the school community.