Restorative justice (RJ) is each a philosophy and a set of practices meant to restore hurt and keep connection within the face of wrongdoing. Whereas RJ is changing into more and more well-liked amongst Okay–12 educators and in faculties, emphasis is usually on its social justice functions, together with its use as a substitute for zero-tolerance self-discipline insurance policies and its position in dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.
Nonetheless, RJ can be understood as a trauma-informed psychological well being intervention permitting perpetrators, who’ve incessantly been victims of previous trauma, to regain a way of voice and management, and to keep up social connection inside their neighborhood. Social staff in class settings are in a major place to discover and advocate for its elevated use with weak youth populations.
By way of assessment of related literature and use of a composite case instance, an article within the a recent issue of the journal Children & Schools:
- outlines the dangerous impacts of punitive and exclusionary self-discipline;
- describes the potential profit of colleges using RJ as a psychological well being intervention; and
- recommends additional analysis to grasp RJ’s impact on self-efficacy, self-regulation, and wholesome attachment.
Faculty social staff are in a super place to advocate for using RJ, significantly for these college students who’ve psychological well being challenges, and to assist implement restorative practices in faculties. Though current analysis is restricted, there may be potential for RJ to stop additional damaging psychological well being outcomes for college kids who could have already got skilled trauma and/or have documented emotional or studying disabilities.
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Article writer:
- Dayna Sedillo-Hamann, LMSW, adjunct lecturer, Silver Faculty of Social Work, New York College
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