FAQ

TRC understands Restorative Justice as a system of human engagement that invokes humility to discover shared humanity and unravels our disconnect to forge a new path. The presentation will also discuss the structure and importance of a Restorative Justice Circle which is a facilitated process to bring a depth of understanding and create connections among participants. Different circle processes are used so that each experience is responsive to community and participant needs.

We come together in a facilitated circle to understand the disconnect so that we can live in a more easeful way with ourselves and others. TRC does not begin with an agenda or require healing or forgiveness to begin these conversations. Instead, we strive to create a place for us all to come together with humility and humanity. We believe that the journey to restoring what has been lost or ruptured is a process that needs structure and space.

A TRC Restorative Justice Circle is a place to listen and speak, a place to gain a deeper understanding of self and others. A circle is formed when a group of people come together with the intention of listening to each other. The circle is facilitated by a circle keeper. The circle keeper asks questions that allow participants to speak from their own experience and wisdom, and each person, in turn, can choose to answer or just listen. Through the course of our work in various settings, we have witnessed how this circle process can foster deep connections between people. Once these connections are made, participants enter a space that allows for the expression of individual truths and the emergence of collective wisdom. The circle process can be used to build community, unfold conflict, and heal rupture. TRC’s goal is to create the space where that wisdom may emerge. We do not seek any particular outcome - the way ahead emerges from collective dialogue.

 Nothing is required besides your presence. You can have a personal item handy to share -- maybe an item that represents what family is to you. This can be anything that has meaning to you. If you are participating in a remote circle, you will need a device (laptop, tablet, or smartphone) and Wi-Fi connection to participate.

The circle process opens with a quote or poem. The circle keeper will begin the process by letting you know that you can speak when it is your turn or you can choose to pass. The facilitator will ask a question that they will answer first and invite each person in turn to speak. As the process unfolds, the questions will change, and the conversations will deepen. The circle is created by the community of people who come together. Beyond that, every person’s experience of every circle is unique, just as you are.

No. This is not a medical, legal or other protected process. This process is a community-based conversation entered voluntarily.

The Restorative Center has led hundreds of restorative justice circle processes and dozens of trainings across the country since its creation in 2015, and the result is a strong programmatic portfolio and robust training curriculum. Those trained by TRC in restorative justice processes include teens, teachers, social workers, academics, lawyers for CLE credits, and countless community members. Successful completion of training provides individuals the tools needed to continue on in the service of cultivating and advancing the art and practice of being a circle keeper, while shaping the national conversation surrounding restorative justice.

We have come to see that Restorative Justice Circles are just one component of the work at hand; to truly vest circles, we work to create a Restorative Justice Landscape. The approach is multi-layered and requires the strategic integration of the core value of Restorative Justice: We are all connected.

The power of Restorative Justice processes to create a healthy ecosystem include Restorative Justice circles, procedural justice (respect, voice, fairness, transparency), de-esclation skills, stress management tools and effective communication. Within and amongst our organization and community, the values of Restorative Justice can lead us forward.

We invite all these tools to get us to a place where we can sit and learn from each other, where meaningful accountability is the norm, and where we can move beyond limiting labels (offender and other terms that “other” us)