Restitution is a disciplinary action intended to teach students that when they behave inappropriately it is their responsibility to repair the harm, which helps in their personal growth. This philosophy is implemented schoolwide and in the classroom to help students make better decisions and correct mistakes.
Resources for Restorative Practices
Related Briefs
Family Group Conferencing; Restorative Practices; Youth Courts
Outside Resources
Vermont Association of Court Diversion Programs
This is an online video that explains how Vermont's court diversion program, an alternative to the traditional court system, works. The 9-minute video highlights how the program's restorative justice approach benefits participants and the community. Approximately 10 percent of misdemeanor charges in Vermont are handled through diversion at significant savings to the state; participants who successfully complete the program avoid a criminal conviction.
Restorative Practices: A Guide for Educators
The National Opportunity to Learn Campaign has provided a toolbox for educators interested in using restorative practices in their schools.
An Alternative to Suspension and Expulsion: 'Circle Up!'
The Oakland Unified School District is at the forefront of a new approach to school misconduct and discipline by using restorative justice strategies, which seek to resolve conflicts instead of suspending or expelling students for fighting or acting out.
San Francisco Unified School District: Restorative Practices
Information on the values, principles, and processes of how restorative practices are implemented at SFUSD.
Restorative Justice Community Action
This organization allows for a process that holds offenders accountable by requiring they face the consequences of their actions instead of punitive punishment. Offenders serve to improve the quality of the community in which they live or damaged.