Restorative Practices

1. Restorative Practices Marion Martin

2. Overview of Presentation 1. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE 2. WHY RESTORATIVE PRACTICES? 3. WHAT IS IT? 5. WHAT NEXT? 4. WHAT DID WE DO?

3. National Commission on Restorative Justice Report Final report published December 2009 Terms of Reference: ‘Consider the application of the concept of Restorative Justice with regard to persons brought before the courts on criminal charges and to make recommendations as to its potential wider application in this jurisdiction including its possible application in the context of community courts…’

4. National Commission on Restorative Justice Report • Commission projects that 5,000-10,000 cases referred by the courts could be considered for Restorative Justice • Recommends nationwide implementation no later than 2015 • Recommends to review and enhance the youth justice measures under the Children Act 2001

5. WHY RESTORATIVE PRACTICES?

6. Why Restorative Practices? • Roots in Restorative Justice but is enhanced by a preventative model • Inter-agency panel meetings • Holistic approach to working with young people (inter-agency)

7. WHAT IS IT?

8. Restorative Practices A collaborative and proactive approach to behaviour management

9. Communication of effective practice Some people are naturally restorative • What makes it work for them? - How can their effective practice be shared with others? - Can it be learned?

10. Restorative Practices Can Provide: • An explicit language to describe effective behaviour management • A common language across teams and services • Evidence to practice

11. Restorative Practices The aim of restorative practices is to develop community and to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and building relationships.

12. Traditional Approach Traditionally when something goes wrong, we ask: • What happened? • Who is to blame? • What punishment or sanction is needed?

13. Restorative Approach In a restorative approach when something goes wrong, we ask: • What happened? • What harm has resulted? • What needs to happen to make things right?

14. Traditional V’s Restorative • Restorative • Focus on past, present and future • Emphasis on resulting harm • Deterrence linked to relationships and personal accountability Traditional • Focus on the past • Preoccupied with blame • Deterrence linked to punishment

17. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK Restorative Justice Empowerment RESTORATIVE PRACTICES EDUCATION ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP Positive Discipline, Responsive Classrooms, Conflict Resolution Skills Horizontal Management

18. Detentions Assigned byTeachers Yearly Administrative Detentions Incidents of Disruptive Behavior Out-of-School Suspensions 273 145 716 105 256 96 128 585 529 162 65 153 60 70 282 50 2001-2002 2001-2002 2001-2002 2001-2002 1998-1999 1998-1999 1998-1999 1998-1999 1999-2000 1999-2000 1999-2000 1999-2000 2000-2001 2000-2001 2000-2001 2000-2001 Outcomes - Restorative Practices in Schools Palisades High School

19. Outcomes - Restorative Practices in Schools

20. Outcomes - Measurable Positive Effects • In Public Schools: Reduce violence and misbehavior • In Alternative Schools and Group Homes: Improve attitudes and reduce offending • In Criminal Justice: Reduce recidivism and impact of crime for victims

21. Soft Outcomes • Young people taking responsibility for their actions • Young people demonstrating emotional literacy • Young people demonstrating empathy • Greater staff awareness of interactions with young people • Staff feel more confident dealing with young people’s behaviours • Positive relationships between young people and staff

22. WHAT DID CAAB DO?

23. Evidence to Practice Seminar on Restorative Practices • Evidence to Practice Seminar held 19th of May 2009 • Approximately 235 people in attendance and 150 viewed live webcast: social work, family support, education, youth justice, traveller services, local authority, voluntary sector, community groups, social workers and academia. • Evidence presented by speakers from the USA, UK, Northern Ireland and Ireland

24. Would you be interested in applying the Restorative Practices model to your work? 92% 8% 2% Will you pass on information from the seminar to your work colleagues? 98% Did the seminar provide you with newinformation on restorative practices? 1% 97% 2% Did you find the information given at 1% 99% this seminar useful? 40% 50% 0% 10% 20% 30% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% No Yes No Answer Outcomes from the Seminar

25. Follow On From Seminar 17th of September 2009 • ½ day event with Estelle Macdonald, Head of ‘Restorative City’, Hull, UK, Mark Finnis, (Coordinator & Consultant) and Les Davey, IIRP UK • Interested parties and potential ‘Champions’ for restorative practices in Ireland invited • Establish a network • Work out ‘Next Steps’

26. Training Subsequently: • Some services arranged training independently with the IIRP • An Garda Síochána have had 8 Juvenile Liaison Officers trained as trainers

27. Training (continued) • CAAB and IIRP UK co-funded training in association with An Garda Síochána; - 36 people trained in the 3 Day Facilitator Skills training - 5 schools undertaking a whole staff One Day Introduction to Restorative Practices -12 people will be trained as trainers by July 2010

28. WHAT NEXT?

29. What Next? CAAB’s Vision: • Restorative Practices Ireland Support Network • Sharing trainers at an inter-agency level • Low Cost Input - High Result Output

31. Think BIG ACT small DO it NOW!