Expanding opportunity through critical restorative justice.

Source: (2014) Studies in Educaiton.11(1):11-33.

One approach to nurturing positive youth development and creating an “opportunity
pipeline” for especially vulnerable students is restorative justice.
Restorative justice is an alternative to zero tolerance discipline intended to
safeguard students’ resilience and improve their behavior and self-esteem. A
framework that recasts youth as problem-solvers and assets to school communities,
restorative justice focuses on developing and mending relationships
among students, educators, parents, and community members to address
and redress conflict and violence. Instead of alienating victimized or accused
youth, restorative justice works to empower all while also holding appropriate
parties accountable. Individual students are therefore given room to reflect,
critique, and positively develop within a collective context focused on
understanding and justice for all its members. (excerpt)