Restorative Justice Practices

Restorative Justice and practices are being implemented around the globe and are becoming a powerful and effective alternative in responding to crime and conflict. People have been dissatisfied and are frustrated with the operation of the criminal justice system. In today’s criminal justice system, the idea of justice means imposing suffering on the offender to balance or compensate for the victim’s sufferings and losses. Although the criminal law aims to bring social order and peace, many believe it does not offer the chance for relationship building, forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and communication. Consequently, many countries have found it useful to adopt restorative practices when addressing crime and conflict. There are many countries, …show more content…
Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) and the Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) in Oakland, California are working together to produce Restorative Justice, a New Approach for our Schools program. It aims to “build a cohesive, caring school community that allows for improved and increased communication. This includes setting a school climate that promotes healthy relationships, identifies common values and guidelines, develops social-emotional understanding and skills, and promotes a sense of belonging in the school community (Kiddle & Alfred, pg.11)”. It applies three levels of restorative practice: School-Wide Prevention Practices (top tier), Managing Difficulties (second tier), and Intense Intervention (third tier). At the top tier, School-Wide Prevention Practices, circles are used to help build deeper student and teacher relationships and relational practices and routines are utilized to resolve conflict in classrooms through daily check-ins to develop social-economical understanding and skills. At the second tier, Managing