Restorative Justice

At Mariposa Kids we strive to provide access to high quality after-school services to all students. We pride ourselves on the strength of our community. We strengthen our relationships through listening and use restorative practices in conflict resolution. Mariposa Kids staff are trained in Restorative Justice Practices through Circles for Social Change. This is an important aspect of the ongoing effort to better serve our community. We find that by taking a restorative approach, we are more intentional in our practice of conflict-resolution.

Restorative Circles
Rules for Circles
1. Respect the talking piece (when you hold it, you get the chance to speak; don’t interrupt while others are talking)
2. Speak from the heart 
3. Share your own experiences (don’t speak for others)
4. Listen from the heart (suspend judgement, be open)
5. Make space, take space
6. Be present, engaged
7. Confidentiality

Restorative Questions

• From your perspective, what happened? 
• What were you thinking and feeling at the time? 
• Looking back, how do you feel about things now? 
• Who has been affected? In what ways? 
• What has been the hardest thing for you? 
• What needs to happen now in order to make things right?

Punitive vs. Non-punitive or Restorative 

Punitive 

• Focuses more on punishment for a rule being broken 
• Focuses on consequences to teach a lesson
• Isolation, dehumanization through labels and placing blame
• Crime/policy violation against an institution or state ​

​Restorative 

• Focuses on harm and needs of all involved 
  
• Harm to victim, community, self 
  
• Re-humanization through care and support
  
• Active accountability to those who were harmed 
  
• Community obligations, repair 
  

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