Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of the victims and the offenders, as well as the involved community. This is in contrast to more punitive approaches where the main aim is to punish the offender, or satisfy offenses against the state. The implementaion of Restorative Justice has been used in some Connecticut schools systems as well as juvenile delinquency centers. This training will introduce the philosophy, principles and practices of Restorative Justice. Participants will be invited to engage in thoughtful conversation regarding the effectiveness of their community or organizational climate and disciplinary practices. Together, we will explore how Restorative Justice can provide a paradigm shift to improve relationships among children, youth, schools, community stakeholders, providers, and DCF social workers to move from punitive measures that push students out of school and into the juvenile justice system