What is Restorative Justice? Learn How It's Changing Systems

Punishment alone rarely answers the most critical questions posed by conflict or harm. What is the root cause? How can this be prevented from happening again? What do victims need to truly heal?

Restorative justice offers another path. By prioritizing accountability, healing and connection over punishment, individuals and communities alike can rebuild trust and move forward with dignity.

In This Article, We Will…

• Define restorative justice and explore its origins
• Discuss the importance of restorative justice in today’s world
• Explore restorative justice programs in various contexts 
• Share how aspiring leaders can amplify their impact with restorative justice degree programs

Restorative Justice Definition

Restorative justice is both a philosophy and a set of concrete practices used to repair harm rather than inflict punishment. When conflict occurs, those harmed and those responsible participate in a facilitated process to name the impact, acknowledge responsibility and co-create steps to make things right.

While widely used today, restorative justice practices are not new. Many emerged from the traditions of Māori, First Nation and other Indigenous peoples around the world. These Indigenous peacemaking traditions emphasize community balance, harm prevention, repair and healing, and have gained traction in schools, youth justice, community mediation and other modern contexts.  

There are six restorative justice principles: 

• Restoration: The primary goal is to address and repair material, emotional, relational or other forms of harm. 
• Voluntarism: Participation is voluntary and based on informed choice. 
• Neutrality: Restorative processes are conducted fairly and impartially toward all participants. 
• Safety: Processes and practices should be physically and psychologically safe for everyone, allowing participants to honestly express their feelings about the harm that occurred. 
• Accessibility: Restorative processes are non-discriminatory and available to everyone affected by the conflict and harm. 
• Respect: Every participant’s dignity is honored throughout the process. 

Why Restorative Justice Matters: A Systems-Level Shift

Restorative justice challenges punitive systems that often escalate harm and exclusion, paving the way for powerful, positive change:

These shifts ripple across sectors. Restorative justice practices in schools foster cultures of respect and learning, rather than relying on “gotcha” discipline. In courts, collaborative processes support accountability and survivor healing more effectively than one-size-fits-all sentencing. And in communities, restorative approaches strengthen the social fabric that is essential for safety and well-being.

Restorative Justice in Schools: Building Respectful Education Culture

Zero-tolerance discipline in schools once promised safety, but often led to more harm than good by breeding distrust between authority figures and students, disrupting students' academic progress and perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline. 

Many schools are opting to replace zero-tolerance discipline with restorative justice practices—such as restorative circles, mediation and peer dialogue—and the benefits are clear:

• Lower suspension and arrest rates: For example, after Chicago Public Schools implemented restorative justice processes, racial disparities were addressed more effectively, and suspensions decreased by 18% while student arrests in school dropped by 35%.
• Stronger relationships: Schools that practice restorative justice report less violence, aggression and bullying compared to schools using zero-tolerance policies. Teachers are also able to better manage student behavior in the classroom.
• Improved school climate: Restorative justice fosters emotional well-being and improves social-emotional competencies, helping to build trust and safety in schools. 

Restorative processes in criminal justice facilitate structured dialogue between the offender, victim and community members. With trained facilitators, participants discuss impact, responsibility and repair. Some examples of restorative justice resolutions include restitution, community service, treatment and community-based support.      

Benefits of restorative justice include:

• Reduced recidivism: Restorative programs, such as New Zealand’s Youth Justice Conference, allow participants to co-create legally binding repair plans that often correlate with lower re-offense rates.
• Victim healing: For many survivors, being heard and receiving answers can be profoundly healing. Minnesota’s Restorative Justice Initiative, for instance, offers a Victim Offender Dialogue process. It’s a supervised, confidential post-conviction meeting that only victims can initiate to potentially ask questions, such as, “Why did you choose me?” 
• Offender accountability: Repair agreements are tailored to the harm and monitored for completion. For example, as part of Vermont’s Community Justice Centers’ reparative panels for nonviolent offenses, the responsible party generally has to complete the terms of the agreement within three months after the initial panel meeting.

Restorative Justice Community Action: Healing Beyond Institutions

Restorative justice is also used outside of formal systems—such as neighborhoods, workplaces and faith communities—to repair social divisions and foster inclusion. Restorative justice examples in this context include:

• The Ahimsa Collective (California): “Ahimsa” is a Sanskrit word that means non-harm and nonviolence. This organization offers multiple healing pathways, including survivor support groups, in-prison groups and 1:1 support to individuals, and predominantly works with people from underserved communities who are most impacted by carceral violence.          
• Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) initiatives: These community-based restorative justice approaches address deep racial and health inequities that are perpetuated by institutional racism and exclusion. 
• Chicago’s North Lawndale Community Restorative Justice Hub: This hub was founded on the belief that youth cannot succeed without the community’s support. Instead of accepting incarceration as the only solution to crime, the organization leverages community tools, such as social and psychological services, education and employment opportunities, to repair harm. 

Creating a More Just Future with Restorative Justice Training

The transformative power of restorative justice is essential across sectors to foster true healing. To sustain positive change, institutions need skilled facilitators who embody the above principles and can design effective processes that are safe and inclusive. 

At the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, the Center for Restorative Justice serves as a hub for education, training and research. Together, we achieve progress by supporting community initiatives and facilitating dialogue that advances restorative leadership. 

The Kroc School also offers an MA in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership (MARJ) designed for aspiring systemic changemakers. Throughout the program, students will gain: 

• An in-depth understanding of the theoretical foundations of restorative justice
• Facilitation and conflict transformation skills
• First-hand experience through fieldwork and community engagement
• Leadership training for institutional and cultural change

Graduates leave prepared to lead restorative justice efforts in schools, justice systems, nonprofits and communities that are trauma-informed and culturally responsive.

Safety grows when harm is met with accountability and care. If you’re driven to make a real-world impact, we invite you to join our community of changemakers today!