Implementing restorative justice: A guide for schools
Nov 12, 2009
Recently, the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority released the guide Implementing Restorative Justice: A guide for Schools as part of a series of resources created to help with the statewide implementation of restorative justice for working with young offenders. Developed with assistance from juvenile justice practitioners and school personnel, it provides guidance for implementing policy and practice in both elementary and secondary schools. The goals of the guide include:
- Introduce to school personnel the concepts of restorative justice and restorative discipline.
- Offer new tools that can reduce the need for school exclusion and juvenile justice system involvement in school misconduct.
- Offer ways to enhance the school environment to prevent conflict and restore relationships after conflict arises.
The guide topics include:
- Why should schools use restorative justice?
- School safety
- Criminalizing school misconduct
- Using restorative discipline
- Fostering a restorative school culture
- School restorative justice programs
- Circles
- Mediation and conferencing
- Peer jury
- Challenges to implementation
- Suggestions for implementing restorative justice
The appendix provides a listing of organisations that can serve as resource points for implementing restorative justice.
The guide is available for download in PDF format. Hard copies are also available from the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority.



Restorative Justice in Schools