Restorative Justice Practice and Theory

Conflict, harm, and wrongdoing are often addressed through ascribing blame and exacting punishment; this approach rarely meets the needs and desires of those directly impacted and their communities. By contrast, restorative justice provides opportunities for those most affected to collectively determine the impact, needs, and obligations that rise in the wake of wrongdoing, and establish steps to put things as right as possible. In this course we will explore the theory and practice of restorative justice, illustrated through the primary modes of restorative practice (victim offender dialogue in prisons, circle processes, peacemaking, family group conferencing as diversion, and truth and reconciliation commissions). We will examine restorative justice’s strengths and shortcomings, and create opportunities to put theory into practice.



Sujatha Baliga’s work is characterized by an equal dedication to people who have caused and experienced harm and violence. A former victim advocate and public defender, Baliga was awarded a Soros Justice Fellowship in 2008 which she used to launch a now-nationwide pre-charge restorative youth diversion program; an internationally recognized leader in the field, she was named a 2019 MacArthur Fellow./