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Facilitating Restorative Group Conferences

Lesson 1: IntroductionMinnesota Department of Correctionswith the National Institute of Corrections

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Lesson Objectives Define Restorative Group Conferencing List the steps in the conferencing

process. Select others in the group with whom

you would like to have further discussion.

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What Is Restorative Group Conferencing? 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

Led by trained facilitator Participants decide conference outcome

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

process

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Steps in a Conference

Introductions Participants’ stories –

– Victim or offender (victim’s choice)– The other – Supporters of each– Again until done

Repairing the harm: agreement Closing the conference

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IMPORTANT:To facilitate conferences for:

Crimes of severe violence Domestic violence Interfamilial violence Abuse and neglect issues

additional training is required beyond this curriculum, plus a modified process andsometimes inclusion of clinically trained people.

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Participant Introductions

In teams of 5-6 people QUICKLY collect this information for reporting back:

Names Affiliations Things you want to get from this training Things you bring to this training

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RJ Diversity Restorative practices are used in:

– Criminal justice system– Law enforcement– Education– Workplace– Parks and recreation– Corrections– Faith community, etc.

You bring unique knowledge to this training, sharing it increases capacity of the group

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RJ Diversity - 2 Language Processes Systems and their rules Point of entrance to a conference Personal and professional experiences:

– Victim – Offender– Secondary V/O– Volunteer

–Administrator

–Program worker

–Teacher, etc.

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RJ Diversity - 3

Facilitated 2 or more group conferences Facilitated 2 or more victim/offender

dialogues, circles, or other restorative processes

Participated in at least 1 victim/offender dialogue, group conference, circle, or other restorative process

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Videotape Excerpt

From Restoring Justice, National Council of Churches (1996) (50 min.).

Copies available at $5.00 + S & H through the Presbyterian Media Distribution Center: 800/524-2612.