If Restorative Justice strives to make things as right as possible when harm occurs, Restorative Practices strive for us to do right by each other –at all times.
What are Restorative Practices?
A fundamental principle and foundation of all restorative approaches is that we all live interconnected in community where all our actions and behaviors affect each other. This is most succinctly described in the meaning of the word “Ubuntu” found in Bantu languages of southern Africa.
Restorative Practices strengthens our connection with one another nurturing mutual respect and dignity, inclusiveness and equality, choice and voice. With this foundation of empathy and inclusion the community can hold responses to differences, specific needs, conflicts, disruptions or harm restoratively, with repair and healing possible.
Conversations are held in a circle, group agreements and values are collectively defined and a talking piece is used permitting everyone a chance to speak, be heard and listen: underscoring that all participants’ voices are equal.
From inside schools or organizations, to town offices or private offices, to places of worship or family gatherings, these circle practices are ways to check-in and connect, to have deeper conversations around difficult or contentious issues, or to problem solve.
If we notice that some are struggling, a support circle may come together. While acknowledging the strengths of an individual, we ask what about their challenges, what they may need, and what support they may like to have. Most commonly support circles unfold over a period of time.
We also can use these practices as a structure when reacting to harm; this is when it is called Restorative Justice (RJ).
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice applies the fundamental principles of Restorative Practices when responding to harm. It addresses conflicts, problems and harm in a non-punitive (not focused on punishment) and non-adversarial (not one side against another) process. This allows members of a community a stronger possibility to resolve the issue, and to help begin its healing.
When harm is done, whether from a violation or crime, RJ understands that this has a negative ripple effect on relationships that reach far beyond what a person may have realized. RJ pulls together all the people connected to the harm, their support people, and along with community members, in a collective decision making circle where the group will talk about the harm, how it impacted others, and how to repair and resolve the harm.
We commonly ask all participants these 5 questions.
- what happened?
- what were you thinking/feeling at the time?
- what have you been thinking/feeling since then?
- who do you think has been affected and how?
- what do you think can be done to make things as right as possible and help assure that it does not reoccur?
Examples of Restorative Circles
For people who have been excluded from their communities, Restorative Practices and Justice offers a process to help build or strengthen a support system, and to connect to the community when they return.
Examples of this can be when someone is about to leave jail, or when someone returns to school after being expelled. This process has all the same restorative values: it is collaborative and inclusive –everybody has a place and a say; it asks for accountability while offering support –someone can take responsibility for themself and know that they have support; it honors mutual respect, trust, dignity and choice; and it strengthens the community’s ability to work together to hear one another, empathize and make plans for the future.
For more information on Restorative Justice, please visit our Resources page.