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Restorative Aotearoa, from the Diana Unwin Chair in Restorative Justice, Wellington, New Zealand
Restorative Community of Aotearoa New Zealand
Map of Programs in New Zealand
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Excerpted from February enews. Copyright © 2019 The Diana Unwin Chair in Restorative Justice, at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. All rights reserved.
The Strengthening the Criminal Justice System for Victims Survey is an opportunity for victims/survivors to tell us their views, what works and what doesn’t, and how it can be improved. We've been asked to share the link to the survey widely so that more victims' voices can be heard.
There are two versions – English and Te Reo and they can be found at the below links:
Strengthening the Criminal Justice System for Victims Survey
Te Whakakaha i te P?naha Ture Taihara m? ng? P?rurenga
In one of the first rigorous, large-scale evaluations of restorative practices in a large urban school district, researchers from RAND Corporation found that restorative practices improved school climate, reduced student suspensions and decreased discipline disparities in Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS).
The randomized controlled trial compared 22 PPS K-12 schools that adopted restorative practices with 22 similar schools that did not, between June 2015 and June 2017.
PPS contracted with the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Graduate School SaferSanerSchoolsTM program to implement the practices, supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice. PPS is now implementing restorative practices in all district schools.
-->READ ENTIRE ARTICLE at IIRP WEBSITE
© 2018 William A. Bledsoe, PhD
One of the most striking differences between a coercive response to misconduct, and a restorative response has to do with voice. A coercive response suppresses voice. A restorative response invites it.
In a coercive response there are 3 voices: the explicit code or implicit norm, the person interpreting the code/norm and determining a sanction, and the person who acted “out of the norm.”
In this scenario the code is an unspoken voice, ever present, and therefore never questioned. The person in charge uses the account of the “offender”, extracts the necessary information from him/her to determine how the code or norm was transgressed, and applies a sanction/punishment (determined by the code). The account offered by the person who transgressed is used against him/her.
Both the code and the person in charge of interpreting the code are reauthorized. This is how a hierarchy of power is continually re-established. It’s a vertical and self-substantiating system of power-over governance, conflict and behavior control. The code is at the top; the interpreter in the middle; the person who acted out of the norm at the bottom.[1] The interpreter’s role avoids question.
The rules are the rules. I didn’t make them!
-->Read Entire Article at Restorative Way
Excerpt from Announcement at NACRJ website
Last spring during NACRJ's strategic planning meeting, the board determined to write a positioning statement on Historical Harm which is now fully posted on our website. A positioning statement helps NACRJ to 'position' itself within the currents of modern society where ideas and trends present new challanges as well as new opportunities. By defining our association with respect to the theme of historical harm, the NACRJ is able to not only express greater sensitivity to communities affected by long-standing harm, but also able to promote new initiatives that specifcally address historical harm in powerful, constructive, and humane ways.
As a member-driven organization, we certainly invite your thoughts and comments on this issue as we grow in our understandings and responses to historical harm.
Join Us THIS WEDNESDAY 10/10, 11amPST/2pmEST: Eric Butler and Cassidy Friedman from CIRCLES
Bring questions, challenges and inspirations to share during the hour! We will be exploring the edge of restorative justice in schools.
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In October of 2013 Nicholas founded the Restorative Justice Center of the Northwest.
Through a partnership with Pierce County Center Dispute Resolution we have reached out to local schools in Pierce Co. as well as beginning to support Pierce Co. Juvenile Justice. We are looking forward to a rich working relationship.
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In a time of social and ecological crisis, what can we as individuals do to make the world a better place? This inspirational and thought-provoking book serves as an empowering antidote to the cynicism, frustration, paralysis, and overwhelm so many of us are feeling, replacing it with a grounding reminder of what’s true: we are all connected, and our small, personal choices bear unsuspected transformational power. By fully embracing and practicing this principle of interconnectedness—called interbeing—we become more effective agents of change and have a stronger positive influence on the world.
Throughout the book, Eisenstein relates real-life stories showing how small, individual acts of courage, kindness, and self-trust can change our culture’s guiding narrative of separation, which, he shows, has generated the present planetary crisis. He brings to conscious awareness a deep wisdom we all innately know: until we get our selves in order, any action we take—no matter how good our intentions—will ultimately be wrongheaded and wronghearted. Above all, Eisenstein invites us to embrace a radically different understanding of cause and effect, sounding a clarion call to surrender our old worldview of separation, so that we can finally create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
This feature piece by Molly Rowan Leach appeared in the KOSMOS Journal Print Edition, Fall/Winter 2013. The edition's focus was "Cutting Edge Law, Justice, Power and Peace"
"Restorative justice is nothing new—global indigenous peoples and those in peripheral societies have practiced it for ages. It
is critical to understand the essence of restorative justice as an opportunity for all involved, not as a forced system or means to an end. Understanding this also points to the fact that restorative processes and systems bring an equanimity and power back to the people, to the communities, to those directly affected when conflict and harm occur.
Conflict, harm and suffering are basic elements of living within the earthly dimension. There is a great transformation occurring in the Western world, guided by global traditions and practices, that is influencing not only our choice in how we respond to harm and imbalance but also how we see the incredibly important choice we all have in front of us—"
By Molly Rowan Leach, Peace Alliance
To understand Ferguson and the subsequent Eric Garner and Tamir Rice deaths requires that we see the greater pattern of violence occurring more and more frequently in the United States and honestly evaluate the issues while working towards viable solutions, together. Of equal importance is that we hold all “sides” of the equation with equal respect while truthfully evaluating what is at the root cause--upholding accountability at the most astute of levels. Headway will not be made out of further polarization nor out of blanket “blaming” statements.
Although many reports state that nationally our violent crime is down, it is without doubt that coupled with technology and the circumstances of a public at their wits end, we are currently seeing media spike around tragedies that in the not too distant past simply were not a regular mainstay of American society--or just were sadly not reported or considered as newsworthy.
