The award-winning “radically original” (The Atlantic) restorative justice leader, whose work the Washington Post has called “totally sensible and totally revolutionary,” grapples with the problem of violent crime in the movement for prison abolition
“Profoundly necessary.” —Michelle Alexander, The New York Times
A Conversation with Bestselling Author and Founder of Common Justice, Danielle Sered
IN THIS HOUR EPISODE, Danielle Sered, a survivor of violence herself, shares with us insights into what her hopes were in writing the globally-esteemed book Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration and A Road To Repair (New Press, 2019) and some insights into her process five years ago that led to one of the restorative justice world's most game-changing tomes, bridging us from theories and evidence into the deeply intimate details of practices that meet the needs of survivors of violence, independent of the traditional justice systems in the US and beyond. She introduces us to four key areas that are to this day the foundation of her work with Common Justice, and reflects on what she has observed since the 2019 publication.
Common Justice develops and advances solutions to violence that transform the lives of those harmed and foster racial equity without relying on incarceration.
In New York City, we operate the first alternative-to-incarceration and victim-service program in the United States that focuses on violent felonies in the adult courts. Locally and nationally, we leverage the lessons from our direct service to transform the justice system through partnerships, advocacy, and elevating the experience and power of those most impacted.
Rigorous and hopeful, we build practical strategies to hold people accountable for harm, break cycles of violence, and secure safety, healing, and justice for survivors and their communities.
#RJ & Heart Coherence with Deborah Rozman of the Institute of HeartMath
Personal coherence is a critical aspect of working within any human services position, and perhaps even more critical when offering restorative justice practices of any kind. The clear intersection between facilitator coherence and the potential for optimal support and potential best outcomes is evident, and in this conversation with Deborah Rozman we cover the science behind heart-brain coherence and how it impacts not just ourselves, but those in our proximity and beyond, in ways that are now quantified. In plain words, if you are coherent, you are present, able to listen, able to stay neutrally oriented, and offer depthful facilitation. The implications are limitless in the field of social justice, and beyond....
Dr. Deborah Rozman is a psychologist, business executive, educator, author and a researcher in the psychology of consciousness. Dr. Rozman has written numerous books, including the award-winningMeditating With Children and co-authoring with Doc Childre the Transforming Series — Transforming Anger, Transforming Stress, Transforming Anxiety and Transforming Depression. She helped Doc Childre found the Institute of HeartMath and currently is president and co-CEO of Quantum Intech Inc., the HeartMath technology company that develops and manufactures emWave® coherence feedback technologies. Prior to her involvement with HeartMath she was executive vice president of a biotech company where she directed sponsored research projects with Harvard University. Dr. Rozman serves on the HeartMath Institute’s Global Coherence Initiative Steering Committee and is a key spokesperson for the HeartMath System, giving keynote addresses and media interviews on HeartMath research and applications.
In this hour dialogue we open with a "Quick Coherence" guided meditation, then cover the following areas:
To open us up, share about your vision, passion, and entry point that landed you studying the science of the heart and with HMI
What discoveries excite and inspire you the most that you think would help people better understand science-backed human capacities?
Tell us a bit about your specific research over the past decades--a synopsis of some of it and what most inspires you about the findings
There is a growing movement, globally, surrounding the power of intention and coherence that is beautifully demonstrated in a recent film that shows how we have the power to influence the "field" regardless of time and space--can you speak to that, and also let us know what your definition of "the field" is?
How does heart brain coherence affect our ability to listen?
Does heart brain coherence impact our openness to receive new information, ie, bring us out of assumptions into new levels of understanding?
Many Indigenous refer to dialogue as a "field" -- can you share how this relates for you, and for your findings?
As it concerns restorative justice and dialogue work, how can heart-brain coherence drastically improve the ability for a facilitator to impact the dialogic field?
How does heart brain coherence directly impact trauma survivors?
The intersection of personal coherence of dialogue leaders and their teams with restorative justice process is an edge area in this field, but it seems that it is an absolute no brainer that facilitators and keepers would adopt this as a regular, ongoing practice. Can you speak to how easy it is to shift, even on the fly, into coherence?
Restorative Justice: Relational and Presence-Oriented
Interview and Conversation with the amazing Jabali Stewart of Huayruro
In this hour and thirty minute dialogue we look at:
How we must value and truly be relational-focused with adults and the youth we work with. We must slow down and really do the work of relating, or our systems of "RJ" will be built on unstable ground.
How some teachers utilize circle to teach, even subjects such as math
The tier structures for schools: The Map is not at all the territory
Tim Chapman: Restorative Justice and Voice-A Return to Authentic Power
Tim Chapman had a lengthy career in the Probation Service in Northern Ireland rising to a
senior management position. He spent 10 years as a lecturer and course director of the
Masters programme in Restorative Practices at the University of Ulster. He now teaches at
the University of Sassari, Italy, as a Visiting Professor and at The University of Strathclyde as
a Visiting Professor. He also offers training, research and consultancy in restorative justice.
He has conducted training in restorative justice theory and practices from foundation level
to specialist training throughout the world. He has published widely in effective probation
practice, youth justice and restorative justice. He is currently conducting research into
victims’ experience of restorative justice. He has been a board member and chair of the
European Forum for Restorative Justice. He continues to practice and is leading two major
restorative justice programmes addressing institutional sexual abuse.
In this deeply powerful 90m conversation he dives into:
Dynamics within power structures specific to his research, and his work, with survivors of sexual abuse with the Catholic Church.
The Power of Relationships and Relationships of Power
The "Seven P's" of restorative (People, Purpose, Place, Period of time, Process design, Protocols (guidelines), Practitioner, Preparation (support)
The importance of listening deeply
The importance of allowing stakeholder choice around who keeps/facilitates
Victim/Harmed parties elemental needs
The importance of RJ and Human Dignity and how these interweave in practice
The "ecosystem" of a circle
Quote from podcast:
"To restore one's own power within one's own life, to give meaning and reconnection, as well as autonomy and control, justice..." (referring to supporting harmed parties of sexual abuse within the church and what he has found they need)
Tim is former Chair of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, and you are cordially invited to join them as they host an International Conference in Tallinn, Estonia in May 2024. For more information:
Petra sat down with host Molly Rowan Leach for an informal but powerful dive into the particulars of restorative justice, from a local to global perspective. She is the founder and director of the Institut pro Restorativni Justici, Prague and serves as the Secretary of the Board for EFRJ (European Forum for Restorative Justice)
In this 32m discussion, we cover a wide range of territory, including her reflections on the conference, the growth of restorative justice in our world, the principles of our work in the field, and the particulars about the program she founded, that is fast-growing in the Czech Republic (IRJ).
A Conversation with honored guest Dina Thompson, Executive Director and Founding Member, Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition….on the simplicity …of returning, to Circle.
You won’t want to miss interacting with Dina and we want to encourage questions as we always make time for interaction and dialogue. Dina’s experience implementing, collaborating cross-professionally, and supporting processes that secure a felt sense of common vision and goals based in RJ practices, that grow RJ practices, will be helpful for anyone wishing to hear insights from a deeply seasoned guide who has faced all forms of pushback and challenges, and has helped alongside and with others to build flourishing systems within communities in the Eastern US region. More importantly, Dina will help us remember to simplify and connect, and ways that have worked well for her in any arena of human services.
Restorative Justice and Therapy Dog Teams with Global Visionary Patricia LaTaille
and an introduction by Molly Rowan Leach, Host/Founder of Restorative Justice on The Rise and RJ Practitioner/Facilitator including work with Therapy Dog teams.
Bringing therapy dogs together with victims and offenders of social and criminal justice to create a healing environment that frees people from their traumas.
Paws 4 Peace is a book for animal lovers and peacebuilders in the world of restorative justice. Those who love dogs already appreciate the benefits of canine companionship!
Taking this inherent human-animal bond to a higher level and exploring the powerful connection of therapy dogs with victims and offenders in social/criminal justice scenarios is a powerful and affirming read.
Author Patty LaTaille writes:
“When asked to explain how this concept of a cross-collaboration of the species in a social justice initiative evolved, my response is deceptively simple: “It just made sense.” Being an 'Animal Person', and one who regards our fellow creatures on this planet as sentient beings who connect with humans on many levels, I've always had a strong belief in the 'Power of Paws'.”
Our Therapy Dog Teams are happy to share their experiences - both human and canine:
“Hi, my name is Abby, and I’m a certified therapy dog. One of my favorite jobs is when I’m part of a restorative justice circle. Since dogs are very sensitive to the energy that people give off, I usually sense some fear, tension, and a lot of anxiety! But I’ve come to help these people. I’m not sure what I do exactly, but when these people see me, the energy shifts, and they are able to smile and relax, at least just a little.”
Paws 4 Peace - Enhancing Restorative Practices with Therapy Dogs, provides a framework and specific guidelines on how to incorporate Therapy Dogs Teams into Restorative Justice practices.
Enjoy this entertaining and educational background of the Paws 4 Peace approach; complete with cute canines & their human's pics ? - while appreciating this detailed manual for implementing similar programs in RJ organizations worldwide!
You will find this book useful if you have read or plan to read other restorative justice books like: Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices, The Little Book of Restorative Justice, or The Big Book of Restorative Justice.
An interview with Lucy Jaffe on the ground at the European Forum for Restorative Justice Conference, June 2023, on how those impacted by harm and conflict can be and are empowered by restorative justice.
Why me? Transforming Lives through Restorative Justice, Director
Lucy Jaffe is the Director of the UK charity Why me? Transforming Lives through Restorative Justice. She has built the organisation over the last 11 years to become an influential voice promoting restorative justice in UK and Europe. She has campaigned in Parliament, with regional governments, police, prisons and probation to ensure that anyone affected by crime can have access to restorative justice. She has had great success in supporting the people directly affected to speak to people in power, which, in turn, has led to increased budget allocation, strengthened legal provision and an increasing awareness and uptake of restorative justice in the UK.
She is a member of the Advisory Board to the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Restorative Justice, contributing to the 2021 Inquiry Report and the second 2022 Inquiry. She has strong fundraising and finance skills and sees this as a priority foundation stone for a stable and successful organisation. In 2015 she established a direct national restorative justice service and strives to run Why me? on restorative principles.
In the last 2 years she has been a member of the EFRJ Working Group on Violent Extremism, attending regularly and being a co-editor on the Policy and Practice Papers.
ONGI ETORRI: A Conversation with Jorge Elias Ollero Peran
Board Member of the European Forum for Restorative Justice and Co-Host of the 2023 EFRJ International Conference. On location for the EFRJ Conference, June 22, 2023 in Pamplona, Spain.
In this 22 minute conversation with Jorge Peran, we hear the essential elements from him as to how RJ is universal, and how it is essential to speak face to face, listen deeply, and take our part in responding to harm and conflict. Jorge opened up this year's conference with a poem from his hometown in Navarre Spain, to set a tone of restoration and sharing of voice, which has potency beyond written communication.
Jorge shares about Ongi Etorri, a traditional greeting originating from the Basque country in Spain, and its meaning and similarities with the core values of restorative practices.
It was a true honor and pleasure to host Jorge and to be a part of this extraordinary convening. Thank you, Jorge, and EFRJ.
Restorative Justice: Insights and Stories from My Journey
Interviews with and essays by Dr. Zehr?— plus, for the first time, details and photos from his personal journey.
Here, Howard Zehr offers his most complete view of Restorative Justice as an approach to all of life. Zehr made his initial contribution in the area of criminal justice by pointing out that victims are sidelined in the Western justice system. He emphasized, too, that society’s laws for handling crime have often resulted in increased violence, more prisons, and unresolved human cost.
In this book he:
Distills his pioneering and influential work in Restorative Justice as a game-changer for the criminal justice system and conflict of all kinds.
Joins his RJ work with what he’s discovered in his additional career as a professional photographer and gatherer of people’s stories.
Demonstrates how RJ practices can extend to all of human interaction—through Respect, Relationships, and Responsibility, along with Humility and Wonder.
Shows how RJ can change our personal lives, as well as our communities.
This collection of Zehr’s seminal thinking is approachable, convincing, and inspiring. A powerful guide to sustaining our life together.
To provide connection, advocacy, education and inspired action as a public service to individuals and communities seeking to proactively improve relationships and structures within their spheres and our world.
Restorative Justice on The Rise is an international live dialogue via Webcast and Telecouncil platform, held weekly, reaching an international constituency of a wide spectrum of invididuals, organizations, professionals, academics, practitioners, and beyond.