Restorative Conversations

A facilitated conversation between two or more people to discuss a situation, express impacts, take accountability, perhaps agree on a verbal/written plan for going forward, focused on the needs of all involved. 

For situations where:

• When two or more people are involved in a situation of harm or conflict.

• Based on the needs of the person who was harmed: “I just want to talk to them.”

• For situations where the impact is not very deep or widespread.

• When, through the prep process, it becomes clear that two people will benefit and have needs met through a 1-1 conversation with a facilitator.

• Or, in cases of multiple parties, the consensus is: we need to have a conversation about the incident/situation. 

Harm / Peacebuilding Circles 

A circle process among several people (up to 25 people) focusing on storytelling around who is involved, what happened, and impacts and accountability. Follows the model of circle process with time for community building through shared values and, community agreements. Doesn’t have to involve the person who harmed. Can produce a plan. 

For situations where:  

• People need to repair and restore relationships and community bonds.

• Where there are multiple people harmed or impacted, directly and indirectly.

• Where there are multiple people who harmed each other.

• When, through the prep process people express a desire to discuss the event and its impacts with others who have also been impacted.

Impact Circles 

When people are not ready for a deep dive into harm, when harmed parties and those who have harmed are not ready to meet, you can hold an impact circle for others involved. People how haver been impacted by a situation of conflict or harm can come together to talk about how they were impacted and what they need going forward. These circles can generate a list of needs and ideas for transformation. 

Restorative Community Conference

 A “victim-centered” process which is highly structured and facilitated, that usually ends with the development of a substantive plan for repair / restitution, based primarily on the needs of the person who was harmed, and with supports for the person who harmed. 

For situations where:

• There is severe harm among people who don’t know each other well.

• When this is a situation where there would normatively be a serious, punitive process, and this can be a diversion/complement of that. 

• When through the prep process it becomes clear that people need more support and resources for the conversation and the outcomes. 

• When it is clear that the person who has harmed has deeper needs for supports and resources to repair harm, change behavior, learn, grow. 

• Note: can be used pre or post a disciplinary process.