What Is Restorative Justice?
What Is Restorative Justice in Simple Terms?
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a philosophy and practice focused on repairing harm and restoring relationships rather than enforcing punishment. At Collaborative School Culture (CSC), we define Restorative Justice as the responsive side of Restorative Practices Training (RPT)—one part of a larger framework that includes both proactive strategies for building relationships and responsive strategies for addressing harm. For the purposes of this blog, we will sometimes use "Restorative Justice" interchangeably with "Restorative Practices" since it is the term many people recognize.
Unlike traditional punitive discipline models that focus on determining guilt and assigning punishment, Restorative Justice centers on the experiences of those harmed, the accountability of those responsible, and the needs of the broader community. Instead of just asking, What rule was broken and what is the consequence? RJ also asks, Who has been affected? What do they need? How can we actually repair things? It emphasizes an empathetic approach, promoting dialogue and understanding to achieve mutual resolutions. This method often involves open communication, active listening, and meaningful participation, creating opportunities for stakeholders to express their feelings and collaboratively work toward repairing the damage caused.
Restorative Justice does not eliminate consequences—it redefines accountability by ensuring that those responsible for harm take meaningful steps to repair relationships rather than simply receiving punishment. Schools that integrate Restorative Practices experience stronger student-teacher relationships, improved school climate, and a decline in exclusionary discipline practices like suspensions and detentions.
By prioritizing community and connection, Restorative Justice is more than a discipline strategy—it is a way of being that fosters empathy, responsibility, and healing.
In educational settings, restorative practices encourage a supportive atmosphere where students learn to navigate conflicts constructively. By prioritizing relationship-building and community, schools can foster environments where students feel secure and valued. This sense of safety and connectedness can lead to reduced disciplinary issues, increased engagement, and improved social and emotional learning outcomes.
Overall, restorative justice offers a forward-thinking alternative to conventional justice that emphasizes empathy, accountability, and healing, encouraging communities—especially schools—to grow stronger and more connected.
Examples and Applications of Restorative Justice
In understanding restorative justice and its meaningful impact, one can look at how it transforms both the educational environment and the broader community context. Restorative justice encompasses a range of practices and programs that foster communication, understanding, and healing among those affected by conflict or harm. Here, we explore some prominent examples and applications of restorative justice.
Restorative Justice in School Settings
Restorative Justice is most commonly used in schools to shift away from punitive discipline and towards accountability and repair. Schools that integrate RJ effectively see fewer behavioral disruptions, improved student engagement, and stronger teacher-student relationships. There are several responsive strategies that can be integrated into existing procedures - a few are highlighted below.
Community Circles for Conflict Resolution
Restorative Circles create a structured, safe space for addressing tensions and preventing conflicts from escalating. Facilitated by educators or school leaders, often with an accompanying circle lesson plan, these circles allow all voices to be heard, ensuring that the person harmed and the responsible party works together toward resolution.
Peer Mediation Programs
Peer mediation is another impactful application of restorative justice in schools. This involves training students to mediate conflicts among their peers, thus playing an active role in maintaining a harmonious school atmosphere. Students often find it easier to relate to and understand the viewpoints of their peers, making this method highly successful.
Victim-Offender Dialogues
In schools, the terms victim and offender are often borrowed from the criminal justice system, but they can be problematic in an educational setting. These labels can reinforce stigma, limit opportunities for accountability and repair, and fail to capture the complexity of student conflicts, which are often relational rather than criminal in nature. Instead, in Collaborative School Culture, we use the terms person who has experienced harm and person who has caused harm. This language focuses on actions rather than identity, encouraging students to reflect on their behavior without being defined by it. It also ensures that the person harmed is acknowledged as an active participant in the process, rather than being overlooked or treated as a passive recipient of an outcome.
That said, Restorative Conversations provide a structured way for these individuals to come together in a facilitated dialogue. Unlike traditional discipline, which may only assign consequences without discussion, this process allows those affected to express their perspectives, share how they were impacted, and participate in determining meaningful accountability and repair. Through guided discussions, all parties have an opportunity to articulate emotions, identify needs, and collaborate on a resolution that fosters healing and trust.
This approach not only ensures accountability but also strengthens relationships, prevents repeat conflicts, and promotes emotional growth. Schools that implement Restorative Conversations in addition, alongside, or at times in place of traditional consequences see stronger student relationships, a reduction in repeat incidents, and a more connected school community.
Restorative Conferencing
Restorative Conferences bring together students, staff, and sometimes family members to discuss an incident and create a concrete plan for repair.
Restorative Conferencing is a more formal and structured meeting that allows for open communication while emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility and agreeing on constructive ways to mend relationships.
Core Principles and Big Ideas of Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice is not just a set of practices—it’s a mindset and framework for creating supportive, accountable school communities. Restorative Justice is underpinned by several core principles and big ideas that guide its implementation in educational settings. Understanding these principles is helpful for educators aiming to create more accountable, and supportive school environments.
Explanation of Key Principles: Engagement, Accountability, and Relationship Building
Traditional disciplinary approaches often exclude those most affected by harm, focusing instead on disciplining the person who caused harm. Restorative Justice bolsters this model by ensuring that all voices—those who have experienced harm, those who have caused harm, and the broader community—are actively engaged in the process.
Engagement means:
Those harmed have a say in how repair should take place rather than being passive recipients of disciplinary outcomes.
Those responsible for harm actively participate in accountability rather than receiving a punishment imposed without reflection.
Schools embrace Fair Process Decision-Making, ensuring that students and staff have a voice in decisions that impact them, fostering a culture of trust and transparency.
When schools embed engagement into their daily culture, students and staff feel heard, valued, and connected—preventing many conflicts from escalating in the first place.
Expansion of the 3 Big Ideas
Accountability: Repairing Harm, Not Just Enforcing Consequences
Accountability in a Restorative Justice framework is not about punishment—it’s about taking responsibility for actions and making meaningful amends. Traditional discipline often removes students from the community through suspensions and detentions, but this rarely fosters true accountability. Instead, it creates cycles of exclusion and disconnection.
Restorative accountability requires:
Reflection on behavior through structured conversations like Restorative Conferences and Restorative Conversations.
Acknowledging the impact of one's actions on others and taking responsibility in a way that leads to growth.
Taking concrete steps toward repair rather than simply receiving a consequence that does not contribute to learning or reconciliation.
This approach ensures that students understand the impact of their choices, take steps to repair relationships, and develop skills that prevent future harm.
Relationship Building: Proactively and in Response to Harm
Restorative Justice is fundamentally about relationships—building them, maintaining them, and repairing them when they are damaged. Every meaningful relationship, whether between students, teachers, or staff, will experience moments of conflict. A truly restorative community recognizes that conflict does not have to mean disconnection—it can be an opportunity for growth and deeper understanding.
To build and repair relationships, schools can:
Proactively use circles to create a sense of ownership and trust among students and staff.
Encourage open, honest dialogue that allows people to express feelings, needs, and perspectives.
Normalize repair by teaching students that conflict is natural, and what matters is how we respond.
By embedding repair into school culture, educators model essential life skills—how to navigate challenges, take responsibility, and work through conflicts in ways that strengthen rather than fracture relationships.
Implementation Pitfalls
While restorative justice’s core principles offer numerous benefits, educators must be mindful of potential challenges in implementation. The success of RJ practices depends on a thorough understanding of its concepts and a commitment to genuine engagement with its principles. Schools may sometimes oversimplify or misapply restorative practices, leading to the known pitfalls of implementation and inadequate outcomes.
Implementing Restorative Justice: Pros and Cons
The implementation of restorative justice in educational settings presents a transformative shift from simply using traditional punitive measures to processes that emphasize repair, understanding, and community involvement. Understanding what it is and how it can be implemented, along with assessing its pros and cons, is important for educators and administrators embarking on this journey.
How Does Restorative Justice Work?
Restorative Justice is all about bringing people together to address harm in a way that leads to real accountability and healing. Instead of just handing out consequences, it creates a space where everyone involved—the person harmed, the person who caused harm, and others affected—can share their perspectives and be part of the solution. The process typically includes preparation, dialogue, resolution, and follow-up, making sure that all voices are heard and that the next steps actually repair relationships and prevent future harm. Steps in Implementing Restorative Justice Programs
Implementing restorative justice begins with establishing a clear framework that includes training modules, creating buy-in among staff, and defining the roles of facilitators and participants. In-person training is especially valuable, as it provides a real-world context and opportunities for role-playing and feedback. Ensuring effective implementation often requires a commitment to ongoing training and support.
In-Person Training Advantages
Opting for in-person training can significantly enhance the implementation process. Being physically present allows participants to engage deeply, practice the necessary skills, and build the confidence required to facilitate restorative sessions. It also provides a more supportive environment for addressing real-time questions and challenges.
Speak with Restorative Justice Experts
While online resources provide a basic introduction, schools implementing RJ benefit most from expert-led coaching and training. Experienced practitioners can:
Help schools avoid common implementation pitfalls
Provide ongoing support and troubleshooting
Ensure Restorative Practices are embedded into school culture—not just used as an alternative disciplinary tool.
At Collaborative School Culture, we specialize in training schools to move from theory to practice, providing high-quality, interactive professional development.
Pros and Cons of Implementing Restorative Justice
While restorative justice brings numerous advantages, it is important to acknowledge and prepare for its challenges.
Benefits
Research consistently shows that schools implementing Restorative Justice with fidelity experience measurable improvements in student behavior, school climate, and overall relationships. A study by the RAND Corporation (2018) found that schools using Restorative Practices saw a significant reduction in suspensions, helping to ensure students are in class and maximizing learning time. Similarly, Chicago Public Schools reported a decrease in detentions and disciplinary removals after incorporating system-wide Restorative Justice strategies, reinforcing the idea that keeping students in the learning environment leads to better academic and social outcomes.
Beyond discipline, Restorative Justice strengthens relationships between students and staff by fostering open communication and trust. Schools that use proactive strategies like Restorative Circles and structured dialogue create spaces where students feel heard and supported, reducing the likelihood of repeated conflicts. Studies have also linked Restorative Practices to a more positive school climate, where students report feeling safer, more engaged, and more connected to their peers and teachers (Gregory & Evans, 2020).
By focusing on accountability, relationship-building, and harm repair, Restorative Justice transforms schools from environments centered on punishment to communities where students and staff work together to resolve conflicts and build a stronger culture of mutual respect.
Challenges
Challenges may include resistance to change from staff or students accustomed to traditional disciplinary measures. Additionally, successful implementation demands time, commitment, and resources.
To ensure that the transition to restorative practices is smooth and effective, schools can benefit from a partner like Collaborative School Culture. Our tailored approach acknowledges these challenges and offers custom solutions that fit your unique school environment, ensuring effective adoption and profound impact.
At Collaborative School Culture, we work with schools to implement Restorative Practices in a way that is meaningful, sustainable, and aligned with their values. If your school is ready to shift from solely using traditional punishment to accountability and repair, contact us today to learn more about Restorative Justice training.