CSC 23912

This course is an interdisciplinary and experiential seminar focused on the roots, application, and practice of modern restorative justice. As a social movement and a set of practices, restorative justice seeks to elevate peaceful processes to address harm and violations of legal and human rights. It is often explored as an alternative to punitive criminal justice processes. Restorative approaches are increasingly adopted to address social justice issues as wide-ranging as racial reconciliation and environmental degradation. As a class, we will explore restorative practices through class dialogues focused on criminal justice, education, and historical harms. Students will learn about community building circles, victim/offender dialogues, and effective communication techniques as well as the practical context of implementation. Students will be invited to imagine moving their work beyond the classroom into areas such as research, leadership, and community engagement locally and globally.

Class Dates: Fridays 1:00–3:00 p.m
Instructor: Amber Herkey
Credits: 1
Associated Term: Spring 2023