Inclusive Excellence Restorative Justice Initiative provides support to students, staff, and faculty who are seeking to address conflicts and challenges within a restorative framework. Restorative justice allows parties to work collaboratively with certified facilitators to develop a process to address harm, center accountability, and identify a path towards resolution.
To set up a consultation, contact Dr. Sara Childers, assistant vice provost for inclusive excellence, at childers.23@osu.edu.
What is restorative justice?
Restorative Justice is a community-based approach to address and prevent harm, with a focus on healing, accountability, and social support to all parties involved. Rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and traditions, restorative justice practices are extremely effective and dignity-based approaches to resolving harm. Interest in and adaptation of these processes has grown globally into a field of professional practice and academic scholarship. Restorative justice services can now be found working in tandem with criminal justice systems, K-12 education, and post-secondary conduct and compliance. Restorative justice utilizes circles and conferences to provide structured opportunities for parties to address harm and accountability and to collaboratively seek resolution.
What are the benefits of restorative justice?
- Addresses harm, prevent harm, and to proactively build community
- Strengthens communities and re-establish relationships
- Emphasizes our core humanity and the respect and dignity of all involved
- Based in active accountability and communal problem solving
- Based in consent and is trauma informed
- Centers the needs of those harmed and strives for learning, growth, and reintegration of parties who cause harm.
- Aligns with The Ohio State University's shared values, learning goals, and supports student and employee development and retention
What does a Restorative Justice process look like?
- Intake – Units or individuals can reach out proactively to our office, or HR, compliance, or a related unit can refer a concern. We will schedule an initial consultation to determine if a restorative process is appropriate. We would then reach out to all of those involved to invite their participation in a conference or circle process. Participation is voluntary and can end at any time.
- Pre-conference or Circle Preparation Process – RJ staff will meet separately with individuals involved in the conflict or challenge using a structured preparation process. We will work with participants to develop a circle or conference that centers processing harm and impact while focusing on repair and resolution. Once all parties agree to the process and feel ready to meet, we will schedule the conference or circle.
- Conference or Circle – Parties engage a facilitated process: a conference focused on repairing harm and if appropriate, to devise a resolution or reparative agreement; or a circle based in active-listening and focused on community restoration.
- Evaluation – Participants will be asked to evaluate the restorative justice process via an electronic survey.
Restorative Justice Options
Once we receive your request, RJ staff will schedule a 30-minute consultation to determine the best way to meet the needs of your concern. We will typically utilize two approaches:
- Circles are ways to engage communities around a variety of issues. Circles center listening, learning, and growth. They can build, restore, or resolve relationships. We can use circle processes for conflict resolution and to process harm and challenges.
- A conference is a circle practice that is structured around processing harm, supporting active accountability, and finding ways to reach repair. Facilitators are trained to maintain a multi-perspectival approach that emphasizes the core humanity of all involved. The goal is to work towards resolution, healing, and when appropriate, reintegration.
We may also recommend workshops from our education program that can be used to respond to concerns or proactively develop skills to prevent harm or address challenges in the future.
Restorative Justice circles can also be used for team and community building, to establish shared agreements, to celebrate and appreciate one and other.
Need more information or a consultation?
Contact Dr. Sara Childers, assistant vice provost for Inclusive excellence, to learn more or schedule a consultation.