Restorative Justice Circles are highly structured processes that are based on and rooted in Indigenous practices, like those of the Anishinaabek. Restorative Justice Circles provide an opportunity for community members to come together for a variety of purposes. OSCR offers a number of different kinds of Restorative Justice Circles. Most commonly, we facilitate group conversations to address harmful behavior in a process that explores harms and needs and a path toward accountability and repair. “Restorative Justice” is a philosophy of justice as well as a specific set of practices that bring together those who experienced harm with those who caused harm to “make things right.” We also offer circles to discuss the impact of broader systemic, cultural, and national-related events that may be impacting a group (e.g. a circle for international students to discuss the impacts of a particular policy). OSCR recognizes that each situation is different, and the interests and needs of a group are unique. OSCR facilitators will work with you to design and/or identify which type of circle may be the most effective for your group.
What are the benefits of using a Restorative Justice Circle?
- In instances where harm has occurred, rather than focusing on what policies have been broken, restorative justice circles instead help identify who has been hurt and what must be done to repair the harm.
- In circles where no direct harm has occurred, circle participants can engage in a structured conversation with others to learn, share, heal, and/or bond through dialogue.
- Restorative Justice processes help people who have caused harm (if such persons exist in the situation) and restore their standing in their communities and repair any relationships that were damaged by their actions.
- Restorative Justice processes provide Impacted Participants a safe, facilitated space to share their perspective, seek understanding, and identify how they have been impacted. In cases where harm has occurred, impacted participants play an active part in deciding what they need to move on and how this can be met.
- Restorative Justice processes allow Supporting Participants to describe more holistically how what occurred has affected those they are supporting.
- Restorative Circles also allow for absent participants to contribute their voices through impact statements that may be shared in the process on their behalf in absentia.
Please explore the various tabs below to learn more about the 5 Restorative Justice Circles OSCR offers: