Written by Lydialyle Gibson, this 2021 Harvard article gives first-hand experiences and efforts to educate and fuel a discussion on the importance of restorative justice in today's world. Gibson speaks directly to Armand Coleman and Emmanuel "Noble" Williams on their experiences with restorative justice in the prison system, giving a first-hand experience of just how impactful it can be on a person. The article not only delves into personal stories of the struggle to come to terms thanks to restorative justice, but it also explores its history and how it became an alternative to the current system.

Bryan Stevenson is famous for his work helping people's struggle for justice in our criminal courts. In this discussion, Stevenson talks about how our disciplinary systems in our schools directly lead to an influx into our prison system. Zero-tolerance policies of suspensions and detentions for the smallest infraction leads to greater drop-out rates, which correlates with high crime participation. Reforming our schools is very important to solving crime in the streets. 

New Jersey is touted as the state with the nation's best schools and yet there is conflict throught. Suspensions and detentions are major cultural aspects of school, but do they work? The evidence suggests no. State Senators Shirley Turner and Troy Singleton have authored a bill attempted to implement restorative justice in our schools. Attached to the article is a link to Turner and Singleton's bill. 

The New Jersey State Bar Association calls restorative justice "a positive approach that considers the needs and obligations of all stakeholders in a community. It is used in schools to build a community, prevent and address harm and conflict, and help students positively re-integrate into school after an absence."