What do we mean by ‘restorative’?
A restorative process offers a way to address wrong doing that puts the people most harmed at the center of the process.
The primary goals of restorative processes are:
- To put key decisions into the hands of those most affected by crime or wrongdoing
- To make justice more healing and, ideally, more transformative
- To reduce the likelihood of future wrongdoing or offending
To achieve these goals we work to assure:
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- persons harmed are involved in the process and come out satisfied
- those who have harmed understand how their actions have affected other people and take responsibility for those actions
- outcomes that help to repair the harms done and address the reasons for the wrongdoing or offending
- those affected by harm are reintegrated into the community
Meetings between those harmed, those who caused harm, and members of the affected community provide an important opportunity to address the relational dimension of wrong doing and the quest for justice.
Training and Facilitation
I offer a variety of restorative interventions to address the context and specific needs of the people involved when determining appropriate restorative interventions (educational /community/family/workplace/prison). The seminars I have taken in trauma awareness helps to assure that the needs and complexities of a situation are met.
The main restorative processes are:
- Restorative conversations
- Victim – Offender mediation
- Restorative Discipline
- Problem solving circles
- Community building circles
- Peacemaking circles
- Restorative Conferencing (including those harmed, those who caused harm, community members, supporters, and professional and legal representatives if appropriate)
I work with you to design the most effective training program to meet the particular needs of your staff and organization.
All trainings I offer subscribe to the code of practice outlined by the National Association for Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ).
Training
Many professionals interested in restorative processes already hold a well-developed set of skills. The challenge in restorative practices is not so much acquiring a specific skill set, important as that is. Equally important is understanding and being able to put into practice, the particular ethos, values, and principles underpinning the restorative approach. This requires challenging well established assumptions and practices and that is what takes time.
The length of trainings is flexible to take into account participant’s previous levels of experience.
Awareness Seminar
Designed for managers and supervisors of restorative practitioners who want to understand the principals and values underpinning best practice in order to effectively support their specialist staff and colleagues. The training does not include a skill component. (4-6 hours)
Introduction to Restorative Processes/Restorative Discipline
Introductory workshops provide an overview of the concepts, history, values, and philosophy of restorative practice. Basic skills for managing restorative conversations and running restorative circles are introduced and practiced. They are suitable for people who will be using restorative skills informally, to resolve conflicts in the course of their day job. (2 days)
Facilitator Training – Workshop 1
This training equips participants with the skills and confidence to practice restorative conversations, circles, and basic restorative conferencing. The course is adapted with context-specific role-plays and processes) for a variety of sectors, i.e. educational, community and statutory sectors. (4 days)
Advanced Facilitator Training
Additional training is designed for those who have considerable experience in facilitating restorative processes and want to broaden the range of cases they facilitate to include more sensitive and complex cases. The duration and content of these training courses will be determined by the particular needs of the participants. Workshop 1 or the equivalent is a pre-requisite for this course. (2-4 days)
Peer Mediation Training – Primary and Secondary School
Conflict is an ongoing part of young people’s lives. When not handled constructively the consequences can have significantly negative effects on relationships, the school environment, and the community. With proper training and support peer mediation gives students the skills to help solve everyday conflicts creatively and non-violently by improving communication, developing cooperation, encouraging participants to take responsibility for their behavior and feelings, and encouraging mutual understanding and respect. Working in pairs, student mediators help participants find solutions that the address the interests of all involved.
Supervision and Professional Development
The assumption is made that those trained to implement restorative practices will be supported by suitable supervision and opportunities for continued learning and professional development. I provide mentoring and coaching for both teams and individuals to support their professional development after training.
Methods
The trainings are highly interactive and use a variety of methodologies:
- Trainer input and presentation
- Plenary discussion
- DVD presentation
- Role Plays
- Feedback
- Observation
- Small group discussion
- Practice in pairs and groups
Relevant information
Restorative Justice Initiative, NYC
https://www.vera.org/
https://nacrj.org
httpps://www.themarshallproject.org