Addressing harm, rather than blame, is the focus of restorative justice. Whether you’ve been harmed, or caused harm to another(s), restorative practices help to address that harm to the satisfaction of those impacted through facilitated dialogue. In the vast majority of cases surveyed, both victims and offenders report increased safety, empathy, and trust, with decreased fear and shame. With Lancaster County’s Juvenile Courts, fewer than 15% of offenders commit a crime in the next two years, less than half the common rate of “recidivism.”

At Advoz we offer the following Restorative Justice Programs:

• Restorative Justice Dialogue, also called Victim-Offender Conferencing, addressing harm caused in crime or violation through face-to-face dialogue process formalized in the 1990s.
• Circle Process, also called Restorative Circles or Peacemaking Circles, addressing harm and conflict in neighborhoods, school classrooms, workplace teams and other groups.
• Making Peace Student-Parent Workshops, an interactive experience for youth and their parents to explore and improve on their own conflict styles, practicing that authentically together.

Restorative practices, focusing on personal and group accountability to address harm, are increasingly used in schools as effective alternatives to traditional punishment approaches. As the dialogue and circle processes promote social empathy and peer support, the practices overwhelmingly result in reduced suspensions, reduced truancy and increased community involvement in schools where they are fully implemented.

Have you been harmed and are seeking a restorative response? Click here.

Have you caused harm and are seeking a restorative process to make things right? Click here.

Advoz does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or age. Advoz does not retaliate against persons who file a complaint about discrimination or participate in a discrimination proceeding.