Restorative Justice

Restorative justice peacemaking circle
Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm and restoring relationships.

Restorative justice seeks to prevent future violence or disruption by finding responses to law-breaking behavior that are proportionate, meaningful, and enforce accountability.

Through our relationships with tribal communities, where many restorative practices originated, the Center for Court Innovation launched peacemaking programs in Red Hook and Syracuse. The Center supports community-led mediation and violence prevention at the Crown Heights Mediation Center, and uses a peer-led and problem-solving approach to youth justice with its youth courts. We are also implementing school-wide restorative justice programs in five Brooklyn public high schools. Our research department will be evaluating the effectiveness of those programs, with a focus on disparities related to race and disability. The Center is committed to testing new restorative approaches to justice and shares lessons learned with jurisdictions around the world.

Initiatives

  • Peacemaking Program

    Building on a traditional Native American approach to justice, the Center’s peacemaking programs focus on healing and community restoration rather than punishment.

  • Restorative Justice in Schools

    We've implemented restorative justice programs in five New York City high schools aimed at strengthening relationships school-wide.

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