What is Restorative Practices?
What is Restorative Practices?
Embedded Files
Restorative Practices Defined
Restorative Practices Defined
Helping students:
recognize and own behavior
create and implement alternative strategies
make amends with people harmed directly and indirectly
reintegrate back into their community
Defining Restorative
Defining Restorative
Access this resource to find out more about restorative practices as defined by the International Institute for Restorative Practices.
Restorative justice defined
Restorative justice defined
Restorative Justice is a way to bring people back into their relationship with their community rather than cause for further separation. It is the belief that wrong-doing is best addressed through collectively identifying the harm done by one’s actions and taking steps to repair that harm.
The 5 R’s
RESPECT
RESPONSIBILITY
REPAIR
RELATIONSHIP
REINTEGRATION
Undercover Anti-Bullying Teams are small groups of students who work quietly and positively to support peers who are being bullied — without drawing attention to the situation or labeling anyone.
Here’s how they typically work:
Identification: When a student is targeted, staff quietly form a team of kind, influential peers.
Private invitations: These peers are privately invited to help by showing kindness, inclusion, and support to the targeted student, not by confronting the bully.
Subtle, consistent actions: Team members greet, sit with, play, or partner with the student to rebuild their sense of belonging and confidence.
Follow-up meetings: The adult leader checks in with the team to celebrate progress and reinforce the importance of empathy and inclusion.
The approach is called “undercover” because it focuses on changing peer culture through quiet, positive social influence — rather than punishment — to reduce bullying and increase connectedness for everyone.
Restorative mediation in restorative practices is a structured process that helps people in conflict come together to understand each other’s perspectives, take responsibility, and repair harm in a respectful and solution-focused way.
Restorative practices came from restorative justice
Restorative practices came from restorative justice
“First Nation” / Indigenous People, used the circle to create community and to resolve conflict and address harm
1970’s, Mennonite and Others, experiment with victim offender encounters, USA and Canada
1989, New Zealand Children, Youth and Families Act, Family Group Conferencing
1990, Terry O’Connel, develops script and applies to community policing, Australia
Late 1990’s, Ted Wachtel collaborates with Terry O’Connel to create Real Justice and Restorative Practices, USA
1994, Margaret Thorseborne, first conference in a school, Australia
Restorative Practices clip
Restorative Practices clip
Watch this short clip to get a quick overview of restorative practices.
Social Discipline Window
Social Discipline Window
Fundamental Hypothesis
We know that human beings are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things WITH them, rather than to them or for them.
Social Discipline Window
Restorative practices are a set of strategies that are often organized into tiers to address issues in a school or community
Restorative practices are a set of strategies that are often organized into tiers to address issues in a school or community
Tier 1: Focuses on prevention and building relationships.
Tier 2: Focuses on addressing negative behaviors and conflict in a non-punitive way. For example, students might participate in an impromptu dialogue conference to repair harm.
Tier 3: Focuses on restoring broken relationships and reintegrating students into the community. For example, students might participate in a Re-Entry Circle to identify needs and formulate a support plan.
the compass of shame
the compass of shame
A restorative chat is a restorative intervention. This involves using the restorative questions in a planned setting; does not involve as many people or as much planning as a formal conference.
Go through restorative questions 1 and restorative questions 2 with the two parties separately and then bring them together and ask the questions again, giving each party the opportunity to hear the other.
“When you really listen to another person from their point of view, and reflect back to them that understanding, it’s like giving them emotional oxygen.” -- Stephen Covey
Impromptu dialogue
Impromptu dialogue
An impromptu dialogue is a spontaneous or minimally planned encounter using the restorative questions to resolve low-level incidents.
For example, a few students in the back of class are being disruptive. The teacher approaches them, asks what is happening, how they think their behavior might be affecting their classmates and what they need to do to change behavior or make amends. This may take a few minutes, but it allows students to help prevent the same thing from happening again.
Restorative Chat
Restorative Chat
A restorative chat is a restorative intervention. This involves using the restorative questions in a planned setting; does not involve as many people or as much planning as a formal conference.
Go through restorative questions 1 and restorative questions 2 with the two parties separately and then bring them together and ask the questions again, giving each party the opportunity to hear the other.
“When you really listen to another person from their point of view, and reflect back to them that understanding, it’s like giving them emotional oxygen.” -- Stephen Covey
Restorative Conferencing
Restorative Conferencing
What is a Restorative Conference?
What is a Restorative Conference?
A Restorative Conference is a mediated dialogue between harmed individuals and those responsible for causing the harm. The goal of the conference is to provide the victim(s) with an opportunity to be made whole and for the offender(s) to take primary responsibility for repairing any harm done. Typically, a conference concludes with a written agreement (e.g., behavior contract) which outlines specific actions that will be taken by the offender(s).
How is a Restorative Conference implemented?
How is a Restorative Conference implemented?
Conference facilitators begin the process by contacting the harmed individual(s) and the individuals(s) who caused the harm, in order to gather information about the incident in question and gauge the impact that the incident has had on them. During this process, other community members may be identified as valuable participants due to their relationship with involved parties, or issues related to the conduct in question.
At a mutually agreed upon time, the conference is convened with all invited participants seated in a circle facing each other. During the conference, all parties have the opportunity to share their perspectives on the incident, its impact on themselves and others, and what they would like to see happen as a result. Eventually, the group will begin to identify actions required to repair the harm that has been done.
After the conference, a written agreement is drafted by the facilitators, while participants have an opportunity to interact informally. Once the drafted agreement is signed, the conference is considered completed.
Responsibility for monitoring compliance with the agreement rests with those who signed it, with the full understanding that other dispute resolution options may still be available if commitments are not met (e.g., discipline code).
Three Phases of Restorative Conference
The power of the Restorative Conference rests in the process, and it is the structure of the process that creates change...Not the facilitator whose job is merely to create and hold the space for the process to unfold. – Dominic Barter
The Restorative Conference (RC) is a process with three phases. Phase 1, the Pre Conference, is a very important phase when the facilitator (or an assigned intake person) educates, prepares and assesses readiness of offenders and victims to encounter one another in the RC. Phase 2, the Conference, is when offenders, victims, and impacted parties come together for the restorative dialogue in order to understand impacts and create a plan for making amends. Phase 3, Post Conference, is when the offender completes the agreements in their restorative plan. The facilitator supports and holds the offender accountable for completing all agreements in the plan.
Phase 1: Pre Conference:
The pre-conference is the first phase of a restorative conference (RC), and it's an important step in the process. Much of the restorative work is accomplished prior to the RC. The pre-conference is when the facilitator prepares and assesses the participants' readiness for the conference. The goal of the pre-conference is to make participants comfortable and familiar with the conference process so they can participate effectively when the parties are brought together. The facilitator will meet with each participant individually and complete Phase 1 of our restorative mediation conference form.
Assess if the case is appropriate for a RC, is the offender willing/open to take responsibility for his/her part?
Determine who is affected and how.
The restorative work begins during the pre-conference phase through:
o Education about restorative practice
o Supportive listening
o Helping victims and offenders prepare to tell their stories well.
Meet with victims(s) and offender(s):
Meet with the offenders first! Only meet with the victims after meeting with the offender(s), if the offender(s) agree to, and are capable of participating in a restorative conference.
Give options for how they can participate in the process if they choose not to attend the RC.
Introduce yourself, clearly explain your role.
Ask offender to tell what happened and assess if they take at least some responsibility.
Educate about restorative justice and describe what happens at a restorative conference.
Explore victim and offender concerns.
Invite to participate, choose a time and place for the Restorative Conference (RC), ask who else they may want to have present.
Ask offender to respond to the restorative questions that will be asked at the conference; help offender work through initial minimization and denial through persistently asking for clarification and challenging discrepancies.
Assess if the victim is ready to participate in a good way; if not, additional pre- conference meetings that focus on supportive listening should be arranged.
Step 2: Conference
Much of the restorative work is accomplished prior to the RC. Arrive in advance, set up the room and put chairs in a circle and something in the center. Set out snacks, and beverages. Center yourself and review the script, seating plan, and other procedures with the co-facilitator. Greet participants as they arrive and tend to their needs (they are anxious).
Circle
Refer to conference facilitator’s script.
Opening ritual (optional): Poem etc., other (sometimes plan with participants in advance). Often used in cases of serious wrongdoing in order to create a sacred atmosphere.
Preamble: purpose of meeting, circle guidelines, introductions around the circle.
Craft restorative agreements/behavior contracts (located in Phase 2 of the facilitator form).
Document and sign agreements.
Clarify what happens next. Explain what happens with the plan and how the offender will be monitored.
Closing ritual.
Often there is a celebratory feel (high fivers etc.) or post circle gathering-- “Together, we’ve come
through a difficult challenge successfully.”
Step 3: Post-Conference
Write up the plan and have students sign it.
The plan monitor will maintain weekly contact with the students until the plan is complete; provide troubleshooting and support as needed to overcome barriers to plan completion.
Following on the behavior contract is KEY in the RC process. It holds offenders accountable and allows the victim to recieve ongoing support. All parties should provide feedback on the behavior contracts (victims and offenders).
Plans should include consequences (or incentives if applicable).
Restorative Facilitator Guide
Restorative Facilitator Guide
Access the restorative facilitator guide to gain more insight on conducting an effective restorative conference.
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