Implementing Restorative Justice in Schools: Lessons Learned from Restorative Justice Practitioners in Four Brooklyn Schools
RJ Coordinators and practitioners from Brooklyn Community Foundation’s Brooklyn Restorative Justice Project have many insights to share about best practices for introducing restorative justice (RJ) to their communities, building sustained engagement with school discipline reform, and eradicating disparities in exclusionary school discipline.
Last school year, with funding from the Foundation, staff from Partnership with Children, Sweet River Consulting, New York Peace Institute, and Good Shepard Services implemented RJ in four Brooklyn schools, and a recently released report highlights insights from interviews with RJ practitioners in these Brooklyn schools and addresses questions such as:
- What is a comprehensive vision of RJ with a racial and social justice lens?
- To what degree is community-wide engagement needed?
- What should be prioritized for schools just starting out using RJ?
- What steps are needed to build capacity for long term sustainability?
Their collective response to these questions can offer guidance and inspiration to schools and districts launching their journey to transform their school communities.