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Restorative justice education is a new field of study that has emerged and is catching on in various areas of society. Restorative practices evolved from the concept of restorative justice. This new approach to education has the potential to have a positive influence upon human behavior and to strengthen societies around the globe. The premise behind restorative justice education is that individuals are happier, more productive, more willing to cooperate with one another, and more inclined to make positive changes when authority figures work with them. People like to feel that they are a contributing force in society and that those in power are working in concert with them to achieve societal goals. Another aspect to this is that the practices that are put into play with restorative justice are reactive in nature. This is to say that they are made up of formal or informal responses to criminal behavior after it has occurred. There are also processes that are in place to help prevent wrongdoing from happening in the first place. A sense of community is fostered and relationships are built in a proactive manner to prevent crimes and conflict from ever occurring. This field of study has major implications for many aspects of society. It can be used in schools, workplaces, and prisons. It can also be put to work in governments, associations, and families. Restorative justice education is considered to be a subset of restorative practices in that it encourages the development of better relationships in order to help the organization function more efficiently and effectively. Every person in a position of authority can benefit from educating themselves about this course of study. It is worthwhile for parents, police, teachers, government officials, and councilors to learn about and to put to use. To use an example of how it can have a positive effect on society, the use of these practices has been shown to reduce violence, bullying, bad behavior, and crime in schools. It also supports a more positive environment for learning. It significantly reduces the number of juvenile offenders that are committing crime and it serves to improve the overall attitude of young people. Education of this kind is growing in popularity in academic institutions throughout the nation because it shows tremendous promise. Students are empowered to resolve conflicts on their own by talking things out in peer mediated informal, small groups. The opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions in a safe environment is there. The opportunity also exists to air grievances in a way that does not lead to dangerous consequences, such as violent confrontations. Schools that have embraced restorative justice education have seen a reduction in the rates of expulsion and suspension, not to mention in the number of pupils who quit. They report that students are more satisfied and feel a greater sense of security in their academic environment. Conflicts among students have shown a decrease, and the ties in the campus community have become stronger. Interested in restorative justice education? We are leading the way in education in this new and important field. For more information please visit our website at http://www.iirp.edu.
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