<strong>Friends of Restorative Justice</strong>

Friends of Restorative Justice

Bringing Restorative Justice to Washtenaw County, Michigan and Beyond

Our Mission: to pursue a balanced and restorative approach to crime and conflict. This approach promotes justice, reparation, and resolution for people and communities that have been harmed; addresses accountability and personal development for people who have caused harm; supports reintegration into a full community life; and treats all involved parties with respect.

Our Vision: We envision a humane system of justice that respects the basic dignity and value of every person, whether they were harmed by crime or conflict or whether they caused the harm, a justice system that restores rather than punishes. We seek a community where those in conflict know they have the option to repair the harm through restorative justice.
What is Restorative Justice? Contact Us

Important News and Events

  • Intro to Restorative Justice – Two Day Training

    March 8–9, 2023, 8:30am–4:30pm, the Michigan State University Office for Student Support and Accountability will offer training in restorative justice. This 2-day training will be highly experiential, and will guide participants from theory, to practice, to planning for implementation.

    Registrants will:

    • Learn about RJ/RP historical roots from around the world.
    • Learn how to utilize RJ/RP in both formal and informal ways.
    • Learn how RJ/RP fits along a continuum of practices which both complement and supplement existing systems and responses.
    • Learn how to create a better and more just communities.
    • Receive a copy of The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Colleges and Universities (Karp, 2015) – or another book from the Little Book on RJ series (as available).
    • Join a LARGE network of RJ practitioners around the MSU campus, and far, far, beyond.
    • Break bread with new friends over lunch in The Vista at Shaw (click here), which is an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility near the training area.
    • Enjoy snacks & beverages throughout.

    Please register in advance for this training.

  • Day of Empathy 2023

    Thursday, February 23, 8am–4pm, Safe and Just Michigan will sponsor the Day of Empathy 2023. The day will include panel discussions, lunch, and opportunities for legislative visits. The events will be at Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Register at bit.ly/DOE2023.

  • Forum on Juvenile Justice Reform

    Thursday, February 23, 5:30–7:00 pm, the League of Women Voters and others will present a forum on juvenile justice reform. Members of the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform explore the 32 recommendations for change and steps underway to advance them. Panelists will be Jason Smith, Executive Director, Michigan Center for Youth Justice, and Kimberly Thomas, Co-director, Juvenile Justice Clinic, University of Michigan Law School. The event will be held at the Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Register at thedisputeresolutioncenter.org/events/jjreform.

  • Video Available: Intersectionality of Mental Disorders, Incarceration, and Restorative Justice

    A video recording of the recent panel discussion, “Intersectionality of Mental Disorders, Incarceration, and Restorative Justice” is now available on YouTube. This was the third presentation by Friends of Restorative Justice and the Dispute Resolution Center in the series, “A Case for Restorative Justice Education Series”. A playlist including the full series of recordings can also be found on the Friends of Restorative Justice YouTube channel.

Read a complete list of news and events…