Restorative Justice In Secondary Schools: Case Study

In partnership with Restorative Justice (RJ) Partners in Marina, CA I am designing a study that measures the impact of RJ in secondary schools in Monterey County. In contrast to zero-tolerance discipline policies, Restorative Justice (RJ) serves as an alternative disciplinary practice that encourages peer involvement and focuses on keeping students in school. While the benefits of RJ have been documented repeatedly in the criminal justice system there is a lack of peer-reviewed journal articles that focus on RJ in school settings.
The goal of this research project is to understand the implications of restorative justice on other school support systems. Addressing the collaborative strategies of RJ in secondary school settings, the project aims to recognize discipline disparities that are affecting youth of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. This study will measure the impact of RJ on rates of violence, academic performance, and reports of bullying. Implicit bias is a vital component in
My role in this research project begins with the project design. Thus far I have reviewed literature analyzing similar RJ studies conducted in schools, focusing on the measures used and identify gaps in research.
I will collect data in local secondary schools that implement restorative justice. Data collection will include a variety of methods including youth surveys, interviews with teachers, reports of bullying, and administrative data on rates of suspension, expulsion, and detention. In order to fund this study, I will work with my mentor Dr. Shannon Snapp to develop a grant proposal for local and federal funding. Restorative Justice in Marina will use the findings from our research project to gain support from local school boards and continue grant funding to develop programs that support disadvantaged