<strong>Friends of Restorative Justice</strong>

Friends of Restorative Justice

Bringing Restorative Justice to Washtenaw County, Michigan

Our Mission: to pursue a balanced and restorative approach to crime and conflict that promotes justice, reparation, and resolution for victims and the community, while also addressing accountability, personal development, and reintegration of the offender into productive community life, with respectful treatment for all involved parties.

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

  • When Claude Got Shot

    Thursday, 7 pm, May 5, 2022 join FoRJ and Independent Lens in a virtual screening of When Claude Got Shot, followed by a panel discussion, prior to it being shown on PBS television stations. This film has a little bit about restorative justice in it, but its main educational value is in showing the complicated emotions a victim of serious, violent crime can experience post-event and moving through our current legal system. You can see a trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXA0H6_yaw, and you can register for the screening at https://bit.ly/3DLa7RR.

  • Warrior Lawyers

    Friday, 6:30–8:30 pm, April 29, 2022, join Restorative Justice of UUAA in a viewing and panel discussion on Warrior Lawyers, a powerful documentary of Sacred Justice through “the examination of Tribal Sovereignty … as well as Restorative Justice practices such as Peacemaking and Healing.” The panel includes the film’s director, Audrey Geyer; Chief Judge Joanne Cook, chief appellate judge of the Michigan Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; and Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, chief judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Harbor Springs.

    The event will be on Zoom. Register here.

    The event is cosponsored by Michigan UU Social Justice Network, Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration, Friends of Restorative Justice, and Detroit Justice Center.

  • After Meeting With Victim, Former Missouri Officer Is Cleared of Assault

    St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, Wesley Bell, offered restorative justice to a police officer after using excessive force to stop a woman who was supposedly taking some steaks out of a store. The case demonstrates a window of opportunity for healing that Mr. Bell took on. He sought guidance from the D.C. restorative justice program and Seema Gajwani, director of the program, facilitated the restorative justice mediation. The full story by Christin Chung is in the Nov. 26, 2021 New York Times. Please pardon the paywall.

  • Cases That Should Not be Referred to Restorative Justice

    Dr. Linsey C. Pointer in a blog post on May 3, 2021 asks where should we draw the line for restorative justice as an option in our legal system. “Whom would I deny the opportunity of restorative justice?” Surprisingly she suggests there should be caution in using restorative justice within our legal system for minor offenses but holds that as long as there is thorough vetting of both the person harmed and the person who caused the harm and trained facilitators, the healing journey should be available.

    Also, Pointer’s website has many other items of interest relating to restorative justice.

Read a complete list of news and events…