Restorative Justice Listening Project Final Report November 2017.pdf

The Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice conducted a strategic Listening Project from February to April 2017 to engage a cross-section of restorative justice practitioners from diverse demographics. The project aimed to assess the state of the restorative justice movement, create a shared roadmap for the future, and provide recommendations for advocates and donors on how to resource and build the movement.

The project involved five listening sessions and a final working group convening, with a total of 130 unique participants and 146 total participants. The locations and dates of the listening sessions were:

Minnesota (February 24)
Maryland (February 27)
British Columbia (March 17)
Bay Area, California (March 22)
Navajo Nation, New Mexico (March 31)
Final Convening - Virginia (April 6-8)

The project aimed to capture the major themes, trends, and recommendations that emerged from the listening sessions, but it does not capture the full wealth of knowledge shared by the participants. More in-depth documentation from each listening session can be made available upon request.

The project's findings and recommendations will be outlined in the following sections, including:

History & Background
Methods & Demographics
What We Heard
Appendices
Overview of Project
Key Question
Project Goals
Critical Themes Emerging
Overview of Recommendations
Where have we come from?
Defining the issues - restorative justice as a social service, paradigm shift, or a social movement?
What have we learned from other Criminal Justice Reform movements?
How do we grow and nurture the restorative justice movement?
Healing and Justice in a holistic worldview
Cultural Revival, Colonization and Peacemaking/Restorative Justice
Navajo Peacemaking
Language
Celebrating Strengths
The Full Integration of Social Justice Values into the Movement
Scaling Up, Quality Trainings, Integrity of Practice and Walking our Talk
Indigenous Paradigms of Restorative Justice
Western Paradigms of Restorative Justice
Defining the terms: Restorative Justice, Restorative Practices, Peacemaking, Circle
Decentralized National Network, Regional Hubs, and Coalition-Building Structures
Sustainable Funding
Facilitation Template
Survey Template
Attendees & Affiliations