Restorative Justice

1. Restorative Justice Applications for School Counselors Victoria Bice & Christy Norment James Madison University

2. Restorative Justice • Why does it matter? • What is it? • How can school counselors use it? image from: http://andreasquared.wordpress.com

3. "Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict." "Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict." -Dorothy Thompson

4. Why Does it Matter? Restorative justice helps create a vision & disciplinary plan for handling behavioral issues while staying true to counseling best practices.

5. Restorative Justice practice are ethical for school counselors According to ASCA’s Code of Ethics: “Each person has the right to feel safe in school environments that school counselors help create, free from:abuse, bullying,neglect,harassment or other forms of violence.” http://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Resource%20Center/Legal%20and%20Ethical%20Issues/Sample%20Documents/EthicalStandards2010.pdf

6. Restorative justice practices allow school counselors to maintain appropriate roles in the school: According to ASCA, an appropriate activity for school counselors is: • “providing counseling to students who have disciplinary problems” NOT: • “performing disciplinary actions or assigning discipline consequences” http://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/appropriate-activities-of-school-counselors.pdf

7. Therefore, we, as school counselors are ethically bound to create a safe environment while refraining from using traditional, punitive measures. http://prosperity4kids.com/2013/02/tapping-into-the-how-in-raising-money-smart-kids/

8. Punitive vs. Restorative image from: thabto.wordpress.com

9. Punitive Measures: Utilize external controls Take things away from the wrongdoer What is the crime? Who is guilty? What is the punishment? Pros: quick & easy gives due process addresses temporary safety concerns Cons: legitimizes authoritarian behaviors and attitudes rewards negative behavior (suspension given for truancy)

10. Restorative Measures: Utilize internal controls Conflict is used as a learning opportunity What is the harm that was done? How can that harm be repaired? Who is responsible for this repair? Pros: Legitimizes authoritative behaviors & attitudes Everyone has a voice Gets to the root of the problem for for all students involved Restores safety and trust in the community Cons: Requires initial investment and planning Must get school community on board and well trained

11. What is it? Restorative justice originated in peacemaking methods of “tribal courts” that indigenous cultures have used for thousands of years. It has been growing since mid 1970s, & used in variety of areas: criminal justice, mediation, family conferencing, schools, etc...

12. Research-Based Rationale • A study of 19 schools in the United Kingdom found restorative practices improved the school environment and enhanced the learning and development of young people. • A study of 18 Scottish schools concluded that restorative practices offer a strong cohesive framework and allow students to feel safe and respected, and have positive relationships with others. • Three schools in Pennsylvania experienced reductions in disruptive behavior and disciplinary actions after implementing restorative practices.

13. Principles of Restorative Justice: • Focuses on harms & resulting needs • Addresses the obligations that result from the harm • Uses collaboration between all involved in the situation • Seeks to put things right • The community is responsible for all of its members: including the person who was harmed and the person who harmed. • ROOTED IN RESPECT Image From: http://www.swickph.com

14. How Can School Counselors Use It? Preventatively & Responsively

15. Preventative Circle Processes • Everyone sits in a circle • 1 or 2 “circle keepers” • Talking piece • The group makes the rules & consequences together • Opening ceremony • Question or topic posed by circle keeper • Closing ceremony Image From: http://theschoolcounselorkind.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/community-circle.jpg

16. Ways to Use Circles • Beginning or end of the day meetings • To address problems & tensions as they arise • Sharing • Brainstorming • Discussing topics (career exploration, study skills, current events) • Student-chosen topics • Farewell circles • School staff circles • Recovery school circles • Conferencing Image From: http://theschoolcounselorkind.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/community-circle.jpg

17. Let’s try one!

18. Responsive • Peer Juries • Mediation & Conferencing • One on One Restorative Practices • Classroom Management

19. Peer Juries • Student volunteers hear cases of minor delinquent acts or school offenses. • Overseen by an adult coordinator. • Jury meets with the student referred for a school disciplinary issue. • Jurors offer guidance and support. • Develop an agreement together. • Connect with community resources.

20. Mediation & Conferencing

21. One-On-One Restorative Processes When face-to-face conferencing would risk retraumatization. bullying harassment http://sixthman.lohudblogs.com/files/2006/12/ashamed.jpg

22. One-On-One Steps: 1. Initial meeting with person who was harmed: • hear story • create safety plan • clarify needs toward putting things right • organize elements into an agreement

23. One-On-One Steps: 2. Private meeting with the person who harmed: • explore motivations for harm • explain hurt that was caused • encourage self-reflection, responsibility-taking, and new future behaviors • plan ways to put things right • organize elements into an agreement 3. Follow-up with both parties to assure agreements have been met. 4. Analyze environmental variables • Contexts? • Systemic? • Share!

24. Guided Discovery Academic Choice Classroom Organization Working with Families Collaborative Problem Solving Classroom Management • Daily Class Circles • Student-Created Rules • Interactive Modeling • Positive Teacher Language • Logical Consequences Invest in classroom guidelines and behaviors during the early weeks of school.

25. Repairing our schools through restorative justice Jean Klasovsky TEDx Wells Street ED

27. References Ashley, J., Burke, K. (2009). Implementing restorative justice: A guide for schools. Retrieved from http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/BARJ/SCHOOL%20BARJ%20GUIDEBOOOK.pdf Amstutz, L., & Mullet, J. H. (2005). The little book of restorative discipline for schools : teaching responsibility, creating caring climates / Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz and Judy H. Mullet. Intercourse, PA : Good Books, c2005. Honigsfeld, A., & Cohan, A. (2012). Breaking the mold of education for culturally and linguistically diverse students : innovative and successful practices for the twenty-first century / [edited by] Andrea Honigsfeld and Audrey Cohan. Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Education, c2012. Kriete, R. & Denton, P. (2000). The first six weeks of school. Turners Falls, MA: Northeast Foundation For Children, Inc., c2000. Jones, T. S., & Compton, R. (2003). Kids working it out : strategies and stories for making peace in our schools / Tricia S. Jones, Randy Compton, editors. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, c2003. Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.(2014) Principles and practices of the responsive classroom. Retrieved from https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/

28. “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” -Albert Einstein