Category: Restorative Justice Case Studies
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Restorative Justice and #MeToo
The New York Times recently published an opinion piece titled #MeToo Doesn’t Always Have to Mean Prison. It is an excellent article that highlights the benefits of making a restorative justice response available to those who have experienced sexual harm. As the article notes, “#MeToo rightly emphasizes victims’ healing and accountability for the people who harmed them.…
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How Can Circles Benefit Spiritual Communities?
About a month ago, a local church approached our team about how they could implement restorative practices in their community. They are a very diverse church with many English language learners who have recently moved to New Zealand from other countries. Especially because of these language and cultural barriers, it can be difficult for all…
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Sustained Restorative Dialogue – Understanding and Preventing Sexual Harm on Campus
Over the past two years, Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) has taken significant steps towards becoming a Restorative University. This has involved the use of restorative processes both in a reactive way, as a response to misconduct or incidents of harm, and a proactive way, in order to build community, enhance belonging and mutual responsibility,…
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Can Restorative Justice Counter Harmful Narratives of Masculinity?
Type of process: Restorative Justice Conference Conference Participants: Impacted Party (Victim) – Peter Responsibly Party (Offender) – Nathan Friend – Jake 2 Facilitators Possible Criminal Charges: Sexual Assault Referring agent: University counseling staff Factual Synopsis: Nathan sexually assaulted Peter at a party. Narrative: Peter and Nathan had been friends for a long time. They grew up together and chose…
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Is Restorative Justice effective for Sexual Assault?
Type of process: Restorative Justice Conference Conference Participants: Impacted Party (Victim) – Cindy Cindy’s Support Person- Amber Responsibly Party (Offender) – Luke Luke’s Support Person – Zane Head of Hall – Ray 2 Facilitators Possible Criminal Charges: Sexual Assault Referring agent: University Residential Life staff Factual Synopsis: Luke sexually assaulted Cindy. Narrative: The use of restorative justice for…
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The Power of Asking “What Happened?”
I recently had a pre-conference with man in his mid-forties who had been described to me as “prickly and difficult.” He had accosted two university staff members after not getting the outcome he wanted and was still very much so dwelling in the anger of the encounter, unable to take responsibility for his own negative…
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Video: Mock Restorative Justice Process
Please note that both the pre-conference and the conference processes are significantly shorter than they would be in real life. In real life, each meeting is generally at least twice as long as shown, giving the opportunity to ask additional questions to dive deeper into the incident, impacts and needs. In real life, participants would also…
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How can the circle manage power differences between participants?
Type of process: Circle Conference Participants: 2 Students – Shane and Brian Student Advocate – Elizabeth Professor – Paul 2 Facilitators Referring agent: Student Advocate Factual Synopsis: A dispute over the grading of an assignment between a professor and two students expanded into an interpersonal conflict and rumors that damaged the students’ reputations within the department with other…
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How Can Restorative Justice respond to a case like prostitution that lacks a clear “victim”?
Type of process: Restorative Justice Conference Conference Participants: Responsibly Party –Tori Impacted Party- Kate (roommate) Hall Manager- Cheryl 2 Facilitators Disciplinary Measure Pending: Being evicted from the Residential Hall Referring agent: University Residential Life staff Factual Synopsis: Tori was prostituting herself out of the dorm room she shared with Kate. *Note that in New Zealand prostitution is not illegal,…
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How does restorative justice counter biases?
Over the last couple months, I have started interviewing restorative justice facilitators as part of my research. The insight I have gained from these conversations has been incredible and I look forward to sharing more as I write up my findings. Most of the facilitators I have interviewed are in New Zealand, but I am…
Lindsey Pointer, PhD 