Restorative Justice is about change and transformation.

In Bikram Yoga, (my blog links, one with a video) the poses are held for 30 or 60 seconds.  As you feel your body tense and you are struggling to hold the pose (in the 104 degree room).  The teacher will say “change”.  As smoothly as possible, you move to the next position or the pause [...]

Restorative Justice allows us to speak with wisdom and real-ness.

One of the phrases I typically say in trainings:  “Nothing new under the sun”.  My point is two-fold.  First Restorative Justice isn’t all that orginal,  its more of the orginal kindness people needed to survive.  It’s as old as the sun itself.  I believe Restorative Justice reconnects us to the past way of relating.
I make [...]

The value of viewing people in the context of their relationships.

I am rereading Restorative Justice Transforming Societies.  I am teaching from this book, the University of Wisconsin River Falls, Special Topics course Intro to Restorative Justice.  As I read the book again, from just a year ago, I’ve been suprised at what I find interesting, or have more experience with that creates these “a-ha’s” for [...]

Helping others is hard work, keep your focus, imitation is easy.

This piece of wisdom has stayed with me for nearly a decade.  I had the opportunity to someone a ride.  She was really a strong leader and she brought a great deal forward in gender-based responses, both in criminal justice and human services.  I guess if they give an award in her name, that’s probably [...]

A new term, a passion and taking life on, full force.

Today in Bikram Yoga, the teacher introduced me to a new term.  “Yoga Buzz”.  We do a pose that gets your heart pounding like you ran up a set of stairs.  In reality it’s a backward bend in 104 degree heat.  I love it.  It’s not for everyone.  In one class I remember thinking “am I [...]

Carefully consider, will you re-act or re-spond. One is more restorative.

No matter who we are someone in life is going to hurt our feelings, make us mad or frustrated.  Someone will push a button that pushes an emotion.
I was telling my friend/old boyfriend that I wanted to be like Mother Theresa and that no one would make me mad.  He asked “How do you know, [...]

Understanding, living and facilitating Restorative Justice

The Journal for Peace & Justice Studies – volume 18 number 1 & 2  out of Villanova University is dedicated to Restorative Justice.  I have finally gotten a chance to start reading it.
The first article by Joyce Zavarich provides an excellent background in Restorative Justice.  What I really liked was a figure she developed.  She breaks [...]

The act of crocheting, during pre-conferencing for Victim-Offender dialogue.

You don’t actually bring yarn and a needle to a restorative justice pre-conference.  I’ve named something, made a metaphorical explanation.  You crochet who the person is, what is relative to them, into the pre-conference process.
Here’s how it developed.  I’m training in a new staff person.  I am taking her to all the pre-conferences I am doing [...]

Lesson from a Restorative Justice Conference “Once you cut down a tree, you can’t put it back”

In typical Restorative Justice fashion, when Circle is going well stories emerge.  Stories that may previously only been events or experiences are tranformed into meaningful life lessons for everyone in the Circle.
Yesterday we had a Grandparent in the Circle.  He spoke about raising children and having faith they would turn out ok.  Faith was the [...]

On the Road Together: Safe Teen Driving Circles engaging law enforcement

Written for the upcoming book: On the Road Together: Safe Teen Driving Circles.
At SCVRJP as part of a Driver Improvement Class, which is a diversion course for traffice violation, a Safe Teen Driving Circle is held and a River Falls Police Officer is part of the Circle process.  The only difference between this class and [...]