Restorative Justice Principles and their potential application for Conduct and

1. Restorative Justice Principles and their potential application for Conduct and Community Development

2. Learning Goals At the end of this training segment participants should: • Be aware of the spectrum of conflict resolution options; • Have knowledge of the Restorative Justice Philosophy and how it can apply to conflict management and community building;

3. Effective communication practices Respected and Valued as Individuals Establish meaningful connections Enhance & Benefit Each Other TAKE responsibility Living/Learning Mutual Respect Communities relationships Accountability Goals balance Individual and Community Needs Process Events Voice VaryingPerspectives Embrace a full spectrum of experiences, viewpoints and intellectual approaches Learning Inclusiveness and Connectivity

4. Spectrum of Resolution Processes Informed by Social Justice Theory Student Conduct Practice Through a Social Justice Lens Edited by Jennifer Meyer Schrage ,  Nancy GeistGiacomini Adjudication Formal Resolution Adjudication Informal Resolution Debate Dialogue Discussion Conflict Coaching Facilitated Dialogue Mediation Restorative Justice Practices Shuttle Diplomacy No Conflict Management INFORMAL FORMAL

5. Conflict-Resolving Tools Most Often-Used • Conflict Coaching – 1 : 1, relational, flexible, promotes self-determination, easy to administer. • Shuttle Diplomacy – 3rd party, face-to-face not desirable/possible, practical non-relational objectives, can be risky and promote avoidance. • Restorative Justice Practices – Explained next. • Facilitated Dialogue – 3rd party facilitated, peace/relationship building, best w/larger groups with a need for shared understanding. • Formal Conduct and Legal Processes – Formally documents a policy violation. Engages authorities outside those most directly affected.

6. Restorative Justice Philosophy • Traditional Discipline: • Misconduct viewed as an offense against the state or organization. • Offender goes before authority figure who issues punishment. • Offender’s punishment usually includes exclusion. • Misconduct viewed as harm to the community. • All affected parties meet to discuss what happened and determine how to make things right. Authority figure is not responsible for outcome. • Those who cause harm are empowered and expected to correct harm and remain within community. • Restorative Justice:

7. Restorative Justice’s Foundational Beliefs • As members of a community we are all connected. (quantum physics, Buddhism, Sufism, Judaism, Hinduism, Native American and other faith traditions) • All members of a community deserve to be treated with respect. (Zehr) • When one member causes harm, s/he is accountable to the communityto heal the harm. (Umbreit, Zehr, Maori) • Through that healing, those who cause harm can be reintegrated into community, rather than isolated from society. (Braithwaite) • Circles provide an opportunity to meet and connect as peoplein a way that other forms of communication do not. (Pranis)

8. Restorative Justice Distilled Various peacemaking models follow a three step process for addressing harm restoratively. These include: • Getting a complete picture of what the situation is that needs healing; • Identifying who has been affected by the situation and how they’ve been affected so everyone’s needs can be considered in resolving the situation; • Collaborating with all participants to decide what must happen for this situation to be healed as much as possible. At MSU we have summarized these steps into three basic questions that guide our restorative justice practices and our conduct discussions. • What happened? • Who was affected and how? • How do we address the harm?

9. Restorative Justice Goals & Outcomes: Outcomes: Participants are empowered to voice their needs Participants feel empathy for others Those who cause harm feel accountable for their actions and are empowered to address the harm they caused and to heal it as much as possible Community is strengthened through participation in the process Participants learn about the implications and effect of their actions on each other and their community Goals: • Emphasize healing instead of punishment. • Engage everyone affected in how to resolve a situation, rather than give an outside authority the power to resolve it. • Incorporate the victim’s voice in the examining the harm and deciding how to heal it. • Foster personal accountability and empower people to exercise it. • Build empathy and awareness of multiple views. • Create community and mutual accountability. • Transform conflict into community-building and learning.

10. Awareness from Multiple Views Engageeveryone affected Transform Conflict responsibility Mutual Accountability Restorative Respect Connect as people learning Justice Support Healing forgiveness Reintegrated into society Voice CREATE COMMUNITIES Learning Understanding All Connected Personal Accountability

11. Restorative Justice Principles’ Potential: Providing a safe space and process to explore issues and situations can: • Enhance learning and life-skills development; • Transform conflict into community-building and opportunities to improve ourselves and our communities; • Heal new and old wounds and misperceptions; • Connect as people and recognize our broader connections throughout the world Engaging people in an atmosphere of respect can: • Foster personal responsibility and empathy; • Permit greater honesty and accountability from those who’ve caused harm; • Permit greater honesty and empowerment to express emotions and needs for those who’ve been harmed; • Advance understanding and empathy for others whose experiences are different.

12. Restorative Justice Beyond Conduct Some behaviors cause harm but do not violate rules or regulations. In addition to using Restorative Justice for misconduct, MSU’s Dept. of Residence Life has integrated the Restorative Justice Philosophy and tools into our residence hall system to help residents resolve conflicts and address behaviors that traditional discipline can’t address. The following video illustrates our approach: www.reslife.msu.edu/rj or on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/24566473

13. Restorative Justice Principles Support Community Development • It provides a foundation for building community and achieving liberal learning goals. • It establishes an atmosphere of respect and inclusivity that welcomes and honors all participants equally. • It offers a useful framework for averting conflict before it erupts and addressing issues that arise.

14. “We are charged with finding creative ways to meet this challenge, knowing that doing so is what makes MSU a model of 21st-century education.” QuestionsorComments Welcome!