Restorative Justice is a positive, proactive, and instructional way of addressing disciplinary behaviors and other matters in the school with all students. The program is led by a selected group of trained student mediators that will serve as role models and provide positive peer pressure for students to behave appropriately and assist in facilitation of small groups to remediate misbehavior. The Restorative Justice program will consist of four interventions: Support Circle, Student Accountability Board, Family Conferencing, and Peer Mediation. Students are referred to our Restorative Justice program by the Dean of Students, the In-School Suspension teacher, a school counselor, or by an administrator.
Restorative Justice brings many benefits to the school climate:
· Creates caring environments to support healthy communities.
· Brings understanding to harm and develops empathy for both the harmed and the harmer.
· Listens and responds to the needs of the person harmed and the harmer.
· Encourages accountability and responsibility through [personal reflection within a collaborative environment.
· Reintegrates the harmer into the community as a valuable, contributing member in society.
· Changes the system when it contributes to harm.
Desirable Outcomes:
· Reduced in-school suspensions
· Reduction in Code of Student Conduct violations
· PBIS/Foundations survey will show a positive attitude towards student interactions, staff interactions and overall disciplinary issues.