“Hearing and Being Heard”: Evaluation Results from a Restorative Conferencing Program

• In Event: Restorative Justice Research

Abstract

This research evaluates a restorative dialogue program for youth responsible for a crime/harm, victimized parties, parents, and other support people. The mixed-methods study includes data from 57 restorative conferences and 170 participants. There were high levels of participant satisfaction with the conferences and I discuss key elements mentioned by participants in post-conference surveys. The study furthers our understanding of how/why restorative conferencing meets the needs of people after crime, and identifies elements necessary for best practices in restorative justice.

Author

• Emily Gaarder, University of Minnesota Duluth