NCJ Number
212526
Date Published
2004
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report presents a summary of the national evaluation of the Restorative Justice in Schools program.
Abstract
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales launched a pilot program in two schools in the London borough of Lambeth in May 2000. The program involves the use of restorative justice approaches to address offending behavior, exclusions, truancy, bullying, and other anti-social behaviors in young persons. Following early signs of success, the Board expanded the program to other boroughs of London. Program goals were to reduce offending and anti-social behaviors and to increase school attendance. Evaluations of these programs involved the analysis of school-level data, such as student population characteristics, attendance, exclusions, staff turnover, as well as pupil and staff surveys. Interviews were conducted with participants in the restorative justice programs as well as with key stakeholders. Evaluation findings revealed high levels of participant satisfaction with the programs and modest behavior improvements that increased the longer the program had been implemented. Nearly all staff agreed that the restorative justice programming had benefited their schools. One of the most salient factors in the success of the programs was teacher commitment to the process. Overall, the evaluation indicated that while restorative justice programming is not a panacea for the problems in schools, the approach can greatly improve the school environment, enhance learning, and encourage empathy and responsibility in young persons. Recommendations are offered that include the advice of adopting an integrated restorative justice approach across the entire school.