Restorative Justice Program

What is Restorative Justice?

• System of justice that emphasizes harm and the obligations that result.
• Central to the process are the needs and interests of the victim.
• Encourages the offender to understand and take responsibility for harm.
• Involves dialogue between victim, offender and community.
• Promotes individual and societal healing.
• Answers three questions:
  1. Who has been harmed?
  2. What are the obligations and whose are they? (Who caused harm?)
  3. What are the victim’s needs? (How is the harm repaired?)

(From Facilitating Restorative Group Conferences, Minnesota Department of Corrections, 1/03.)

What situations are handled restoratively?

• Theft, damage, use, or possession of University or another person’s property.
• Community disturbances/disruptions.
• Abusive conduct that threatens or endangers the physical or psychological health, safety, or welfare of others.
• Violations of federal laws, state laws, or local ordinances.

Why Restorative Justice?

Restorative practice means bringing together the persons who were harmed and those who did the harm, whether it was physical, verbal, or emotional. It means sitting down together and discussing what happened, what harm was done, and how to restore right relationship among all the persons involved. Restorative Justice changes the focus from rule of law, blame, and punishment to harm caused, obligations and healing. (Adapted from Changing Lenses by Howard Zehr.)

Benefits for Offender

• Share story to explain why.
• Apologize to person(s) harmed.
• Decide with the victim about how to repair harm.
• Treated with dignity. Not shamed or disrespected.

Benefits for Victim

• Have questions answered about how and why harm occurred.
• Express feelings to offender.
• Have greater say in how the harm is repaired.
• Express feelings in a safe environment with minimized chance of re-victimization.

Benefits for Community

• Help with reintegration of victim and offender.
• Strengthen community.

Who is involved?

The individual(s) who experienced harm, the individual(s) who caused harm, and the facilitators are the main participants in a Restorative Justice Group Conference. Those who were indirectly harmed, support people, family members, and community members may also be asked to attend.

How does a situation reach the Restorative Justice Group Conference?

1. Harm is caused.
2. Offender is identified.
3. Offender meets with a University Hearing Officer, Area Coordinator, Hall Director or Resident Assistant.
4. University Official refers case to the office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services.
5. Restorative Justice facilitator is given the case.
6. Restorative Justice facilitator introduces process to offender. Determines if situation can be handled restoratively.
7. Restorative Justice facilitator introduces process to victim. Determines if victim wants to participate.
8. Restorative Justice Group Conference held. Agreement is reached.

For more information on the Restorative Justice Program, contact Shay Bright at 491-7165.