2. Principles of Restorative Practices

The principles of restorative practices flow from the principles of restorative justice:

1. Victims and/or the community have been harmed and are in need of restoration.
   • The primary victims are those most directly affected by the offense but others such as family members of both the victims and offenders, and members of the affected community, are also victims. The relationships affected by the offense must be addressed. Restoration is a continuum of responses to the range of needs and harms experienced by the victims, offenders and the community.
2. Victims, offenders and the affected communities are the key stakeholders.
   • The restorative process maximizes the input and participation of the parties, especially the victims as well as the offender(s), in seeking restoration, healing, responsibility and prevention. The roles of each person will vary according to the nature of the offense as well as the capacities and preferences of the individuals. The jurisdiction in which the offense has occurred (town, county, state, etc.) may have a mandated role, such as investigating facts, facilitating processes and ensuring safety, but the jurisdiction is not a primary victim.
3. The offender has an obligation to make things right as much as possible.
   • The primary obligation is to the victim(s). The restorative process empowers the victim(s) to participate in defining the obligation. The offender is provided with opportunities and encouragement to understand the harm he or she has caused and to develop a plan for taking appropriate responsibility. To assist the offender in seeing this as an obligation, voluntary participation is promoted and coercion and exclusion are minimized. However, an offender may be required to accept the obligation if they do not do so voluntarily. Any obligation that follows from the harm inflicted by the offense must be related to making things right. While the obligation may be experienced as difficult by the offender it must not be intended as painful, vengeance or revenge. Obligation to the victim(s) must take priority over other sanctions or obligations to the school or the jurisdiction. The offender also has an obligation to himself or herself, to be an active participant in addressing his or her own needs.

Adapted from Zehr & Mika, (1998), “Fundamental Concepts in Restorative Justice”.

The principles in the following sections reflect the values and concepts for implementing restorative practices in the school setting. Listed under each principle are some of its important implications.