PARAKLETOS
RESOLUTION
Understanding the Roots.
Finding the Way Forward.
RESOLUTION
Understanding the Roots.
Finding the Way Forward.
Youth conflict and harmful behavior can affect young people, families, schools, and communities long after the immediate incident has ended.
Restorative justice offers a structured way to address harm by creating space for accountability, dialogue, repair, and meaningful participation by those affected.
At Parakletos Resolution, restorative approaches are informed by mediation practice, legal training, psychology, social work experience, and professional learning in youth corrections.
Where appropriate and within the requirements of the relevant jurisdiction and referral process, restorative approaches may support alternatives to formal justice-system processing.
Potential applications include:
Youth conflict and interpersonal harm
School-related conflict and behavioral concerns
Early intervention following harmful or disruptive conduct
Victim–youth dialogue where appropriate and voluntarily undertaken
Accountability and repair processes
Family and community involvement
Reintegration and relationship repair
The focus is not simply on the incident. It is on understanding the harm, supporting accountability, identifying what is needed to repair that harm, and helping participants move forward constructively.
My restorative justice practice is supported by:
Minnesota Supreme Court Rule 114 restorative/facilitative mediation training
Continuing legal education in youth corrections
Legal training and professional experience
Experience working with youth and families in restorative mediation settings
Social work experience supporting young people with learning and educational needs
Cross-cultural and international experience working with individuals, families, and institutions
Restorative processes are grounded in three principles:
Accountability
Young people are supported in understanding the impact of their actions and taking meaningful responsibility where appropriate.
Repair
The process focuses on addressing harm and identifying practical steps toward repair.
Participation
Those affected by the conflict or harm have an opportunity to participate in determining an appropriate way forward, subject to suitability, consent, and applicable requirements.
Depending on the nature of the matter and applicable referral requirements, restorative services may be relevant to:
Young people and their families
Schools and educational organizations
Community organizations
Youth-serving professionals
Attorneys and legal professionals
Organizations developing restorative or diversion-focused initiatives
Restorative processes are not appropriate for every situation. Suitability depends on the circumstances, the willingness and ability of participants to participate meaningfully, safety considerations, and any applicable legal, institutional, or referral requirements.
An initial conversation can help determine whether a restorative process may be appropriate.
Explore whether a restorative approach may fit your situation.