Course Description
Summary
With current focus on social justice, equity and efforts at redress and repair, the ideas and values that are at the foundation of restorative practices are more important than ever. Restorative justice promotes a set of values and practices that are having a considerable impact on the way our justice system, schools, workplaces, conflict zones and communities think about and enact justice.
Restorative Justice asks: What if harm doers were given the opportunity to take responsibility and make amends? If survivors were able to be active participants in defining what justice is and how it could be enacted to help them to heal and move on? And if the larger community was involved in this accountability and healing process?
In this introductory course we will explore the roots, values and practices that make up restorative justice. We will ask in what circumstance restorative practice is and is not appropriate. We will also practice using circles, a core method of restorative justice.
