​    APPROACHES TO HARM REPAIR

Whether you are the person harmed (victim), the person who caused harm (offender), someone who is referred, and/or someone who self refers, RJP uses restorative processes and frameworks that encourage reflection, fairness and repairing of harms done that are satisfactory to all who opt to participate.

            Types of Harm Repair Practices
​​   There are different forms of harm repair processes, depending on the individual(s), their circumstances and their needs. These practices are always voluntary, and usually come after a pre-requisite restorative reflection.
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1. Restorative Reflection: One-on-one conversation between individual involved in harm or conflict and a restorative practitioner. Serves as preparatory stage and uses 5 restorative questions (see below).
2. Restorative Dialogue: Process usually used for those most impacted, and when support people are not needed or wanted.
3. Support Circle: When participants want support people present. Can be used when only one person harmed or person who caused harm wants to participate.
4. Restorative Conference: Facilitator directs dialog for a larger group (12+). Support people and community members are present.
5. Harm Repair Circle: Everyone gets equal opportunities to speak in circle rounds to address specific incident of harm. Used especially for those who have ongoing relationships.

             The Five Restorative Questions
   (some form of which is used in all restorative harm repair processes)

• What happened?
• What were you thinking and feeling at the time?
• What have you thought about and felt since then?
• Who has been impacted and how?
• ​​What needs to be done to make things right?/ What needs to be done to ensure this doesn't happen again?

Key Terms and Definitions        
This incomplete list of values, tools and roles found throughout the restorative process attempts to answer any questions or confusion people might have. As participants become more involved, more in-depth lists will surface and emerge. Please always feel free to ask RJP staff any questions that come up about the process, one's involvement, or anything else!

                                               VALUES

• Voluntary: If working with RJP at any point does not feel right or is not of interest to someone, they can choose to opt out, and RJP staff will support and assist the participant in this decision.
• Accountability: Taking responsibility for one's actions and beginning to explore the underlying causes of behavior.
• Confidentiality: We agree to not use any information learned or discussed during RJP processes or interactions as evidence before any other process, including court. (Only exceptions are if child neglect or abuse, or any other form of serious threat or harm to oneself or others).

                                           TOOLS

• Referrals: When someone who has been harmed or who has caused harm is officially recommended by Court, law enforcement or community members to participate with RJP. ​​
• Intake: When a harm repair manager or facilitator first reaches out to make contact, inform potential participant of services, answer questions, and ask if working with RJP is of interest to them.
• Repair Agreement: The agreement made by participants towards the end of a harm repair or restorative process that attempts to list items that makeup for the harm caused. This agreement considers harm done to all parties directly affected such as individuals, family, and community. Items must be completed (by date participants choose) before successful completion.

                                                                       ROLES

• Person Who Caused Harm: Person(s) whose actions or decisions negatively impacted others. Court usually uses the word offender or perpetrator, but RJP tries not to use labels that limit people to one event in their life.  These people very well could have experienced harm as well.
• Person Harmed: Person(s) directly affected in a harmful way from someone else's actions or decisions. Court usually uses the word victim, but RJP tries to not use labels that limit people to one event in their life.
• Restorative Practitioner or Facilitator: Sometimes RJP staff, sometimes volunteers, the facilitator helps accomplish preparatory work and guide participant's through harm repair processes and conversations. 
• Support Person(s): People in a participant's life that they wish to assist them through the harm repair process. These people may or may not have also been impacted by the harm in some way. Can be family, friends, lawyers, social workers, teachers, etc.
• Community Member: Someone who lives in in the community where the harm occurred, who is present for the harm repair process, and who can speak to repercussions that the action/event caused to the greater community.
• Mentor: A community volunteer assigned by RJP (if participant wants) that supports and assists participants, including with completion of Repair Agreement items.

​“[RJP] has found an effective way to get through to people…What I saw from your program was a young person's eyes opening up. A deep level of what his actions caused was brought to life within him. Good stuff.” -Officer Jim Bergdoll, Belfast Police Dept.
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 “I learned that I am a good person, that I made a mistake, but that I have accounted for it and I will go on to be the person that I know I am.” -Juvenile participant at a closing