1 Facilitating Restorative Group Conferences Lesson 1: Introduction Minnesota Department of Corrections with the National Institute of Corrections

2 Lesson Objectives n Define Restorative Group Conferencing n List the steps in the conferencing process. n Select others in the group with whom you would like to have further discussion.

3 What Is Restorative Group Conferencing? n Face-to-face encounter to repair harm –Person(s) who has been harmed –Person(s) who did the harm –Supporters of each –Others with a stake in outcome n Led by trained facilitator n Participants decide conference outcome

4 What Is Conferencing? - 2 n Voluntary for victim n Admission of responsibility by offender n Incident-based, behavior-based n Focuses on empowering participants n Looks at underlying causes n Comes to consensus agreement n For adults or juveniles, any point in life n Any point in justice system or school process

5 Steps in a Conference n Introductions n Participants stories – –Victim or offender (victims choice) –The other –Supporters of each –Again until done n Repairing the harm: agreement n Closing the conference

6 IMPORTANT: To facilitate conferences for: n Crimes of severe violence n Domestic violence n Interfamilial violence n Abuse and neglect issues additional training is required beyond this curriculum, plus a modified process and sometimes inclusion of clinically trained people.

7 Participant Introductions In teams of 5-6 people QUICKLY collect this information for reporting back: n Names n Affiliations n Things you want to get from this training n Things you bring to this training

8 RJ Diversity n Restorative practices are used in: –Criminal justice system –Law enforcement –Education –Workplace –Parks and recreation –Corrections –Faith community, etc. n You bring unique knowledge to this training, sharing it increases capacity of the group

9 RJ Diversity - 2 n Language n Processes n Systems and their rules n Point of entrance to a conference n Personal and professional experiences: –Victim –Offender –Secondary V/O –Volunteer –Administrator –Program worker –Teacher, etc.

10 RJ Diversity - 3 n Facilitated 2 or more group conferences n Facilitated 2 or more victim/offender dialogues, circles, or other restorative processes n Participated in at least 1 victim/offender dialogue, group conference, circle, or other restorative process

11 Videotape Excerpt From Restoring Justice, National Council of Churches (1996) (50 min.). Copies available at $ S & H through the Presbyterian Media Distribution Center: 800/