Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a philosophical approach to conflict resolution that embraces the reparation of harm, healing of trauma, reconciliation of interpersonal conflict, reduction of social inequality, and reintegration of people who have been marginalized and outcast within our Christ-centered community here at GFU.
A central practice of Restorative Justice is a collaborative decision-making process that includes harmed parties, people who caused harm, and others to seek a resolution that focuses on:
- Accepting and acknowledging responsibility for harmful behavior.
- Repairing the harm caused to individuals and the community.
- Working to rebuild trust by showing understanding of the harm, addressing personal
issues, and building social connections.
The RJ Process
RJ offers a structured way to address conflicts and harm, primarily through:
- Pre-conferences: Before meeting face-to-face, each person meets individually with the RJ facilitator to ensure agreement on basic principles, answer questions, and prepare for the conference.
- Restorative Justice Conferences: A facilitated dialogue between the person who caused harm and the harmed parties. This can also include a support person for the person who caused harm.
- Restorative Justice Circles: Similar to conferences but typically involve larger groups. This is ideal for navigating conflict, bias, or misunderstanding within a classroom, a cohort, a dorm hall, a community group, or a team. Restorative Circles use peacemaking strategies to ensure harm is repaired, all voices are heard, and community is restored.
When is RJ used?
Restorative Justice can be applied to a wide range of issues within the GFU community, including:
- Conduct violations
- Alcohol and drug use
- Sexual misconduct
- Gender based harassment or discrimination
- Campus climate issues (e.g., Harmful speech that is not a policy violation)
- Residential life and community conflicts
- Athletic team conflicts or violations
- Student organization issues
- Workplace issues (faculty and staff conflicts)
- Reentry support for students with conduct suspensions, medical leave, or other types of
leave
Identifying Harm and Restitution
Restorative Justice identifies specific types of harm and works toward corresponding acts of restitution:
| Type of Harm | Corresponding Restitution |
|---|---|
| Emotional & Spiritual | Acknowledgment & Apology |
| Material & Physical | Repair, Restitution, & Recovery |
| Communal & Relational | Community Service & Reintegration |
| Structural & Historical | Social Justice & Systems Change |
Restorative Justice can provide creative, equitable, and respectful solutions to conflict. If you are curious about how restorative justice might serve you or your team, please contact:
