Restorative Justice at Duke and Beyond

Restorative Justice is an ethical framework based on the fundamental premise that people are more cooperative, productive and likely to make positive changes when they work with others in authority to address concerns. Its guiding philosophy fosters community based in restorative practices that proactively develop positive relationships, create shared values, and manage conflict by acknowledging and repairing harms as a community. These practices are designed to increase empathy and accountability on behalf of the wrong-doer, and restore, to the extent possible, the emotional and material losses of the harmed parties by providing a range of opportunities for dialogue, negotiation and problem-solving. This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of restorative justice and its application in the contexts of the criminal justice system, the public education system, and Duke’s campus. It explores the needs and roles for key stakeholders (parties who cause or experience harm, communities, justice systems), examines the values and assumptions underpinning the movement and exposes students to programs in the community. The second half of the course will focus on the implementation of restorative practices and restorative justice at Duke to build community or address conflict in student groups, Greek life and residential settings, and as an alternative to the conduct process for those who experience sexual harm. At the end of the course, students will be proficient in keeping restorative circles for community building and addressing minor conflicts in various environments at Duke.