What can happen when we move justice out of the law system and into neighborhoods and communities? Restorative practices are being put into action beyond justice systems into schools and institutions, changing the conversation from fault and punishment to looking at who has been harmed, how they were harmed and whose obligation it is to repair that harm. In this conversation, community and organizational psychologist Thom Allena shares insight and experiences from his work with restorative justice. Listen:

In this podcast:

  • What is restorative justice (1:30 – 4:00)
  • Redefining accountability (12:15 – 13:07)
  • Care and creativity (16:15 – 17:00)
  • Restorative leadership (25:00 – 26:05)
  • Restorative classrooms (41:30 – 43:10)

Quotes from Thom Allena:

“The inquiry shifts away from fact finding and the medium through which the information comes into the system is through narrative and story.”

“We need to think more systemically about this and stop thinking that somehow if we just build walls or use enforcement systems, that’s the answer to some of these social ills that we have.”

“How do we develop leaders who think a little differently, a little less politically and a little bit more restoratively?”

Top photo by Antenna on Unsplash