Flow of a Community Building Circle:
Opening Welcome | Purpose of Circle
Explanation of Talking Piece&Centerpieces
Introductions | Check in
Circle Guidelines
Setting Values
Community Activity
Main Topic
Reflection | Check out
Closing
Restorative justice is an approach to justice where one of the responses to a crime is to organize a meeting between the victim and the offender, sometimes with representatives of the wider community.
There are 3 types of Restorative Justice circles:
Tier 1:
Community Building classroom circles to build relationships, create shared values and guidelines and have restorative conversations concerning behavioral disruption. The goal is to build a caring, equitable community with conditions conducive to learning.
Tier 2:
Harm&Healing/Intervention Use of non-punitive responses to harm/conflict such as harm circles, mediation, or family-group conferencing to respond to disciplinary issues in a restorative manne
Tier 3:
Re-Integration 1:1 support and successful re-entry of youth following suspension, truancy, expulsion or incarceration. The goal is to welcome youth to the school community in a manner that provides wraparound support and promotes student accountability and achievement.