Growing the Collective Commitment to Implement Restorative Justice in Organizations
- Why Restorative Justice
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Implementing restorative justice (RJ) in a school, or any organization, is more than adopting a new set of discipline tools. It’s a cultural shift. It changes how people relate to one another, how harm is addressed, and how community is built. And none of that transformation sticks unless there’s collective commitment among community members. You don’t need every single person to be an expert, but you do need enough people invested deeply enough to change daily practice.
Why Collective Commitment Matters for Restorative Justice in Organizations
RJ succeeds when it becomes “the way we do things here,” not a side project. A study funded by the National Institute of Justice found that school‑wide RJ efforts were shaped heavily by organizational factors like leadership support, staff beliefs about discipline, and the quality of relationships among adults.
Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D, identifies the following four key criteria for success:
1. strong leadership vision and commitment
2. explicit efforts to generate staff engagement
3. continuous and meaningful professional development, and;
4. allocation of resources (e.g. coaching and consulting, time allocation, a coordinator position)
Without that shared commitment, RJ often becomes inconsistent; some staff use restorative approaches while others default to punitive responses. This inconsistency can undermine trust and legitimacy, as noted in SchoolMint’s blog on common RJ pitfalls.
Collective commitment, then, is what makes RJ sustainable, trustworthy, and impactful.
Barriers to Staff Engagement
Understanding what gets in the way helps you plan for it.
Unlearning. Traditional ways of thinking that are in opposition to restorative approaches. This could include learned retributive strategies or experienced punitive consequences.
Skepticism. Some staff worry RJ is “soft” or will reduce their authority. EdPost highlights how common this misconception is.
Lack of understanding or capacity. If people don’t feel trained or confident, resistance is natural. Edutopia frequently emphasizes the need for skill‑building.
Weak leadership commitment. When leaders treat RJ as a program rather than a culture shift, staff follow suit.
Limited resources. Without time, coaching, or a coordinator, RJ feels like “one more thing.” Restorative Solutions notes this as a top implementation challenge.
Cultural misalignment. If RJ isn’t adapted to the school’s culture or values, it can feel foreign. Restorative Justice Colorado stresses the importance of contextual fit.
Strategies to Grow Collective Commitment to Implement Restorative Justice in Schools
1. Lead with Vision and Modeling
Leadership sets the tone. When principals and administrators actively participate in circles, speak the language of RJ, and allocate resources, they signal that RJ is core to the school’s identity, not a passing trend. Duggins-Clay’s article emphasizes this repeatedly.
2. Engage Staff Early and Often
Invite staff into the process from the beginning. Host listening sessions, staff circles, and roundtables to surface concerns and hopes. Transparency about why, goals, challenges, and evidence, like the approachable explanations at Restorative Justice 101, helps reduce fear and build trust. It also gives staff the opportunity to feel the benefits of the practices themselves.
3. Build Capacity Through Training and Coaching
Start with a core group of champions, then expand training gradually. Create an implementation team that can advocate from within the organization. The California Department of Education recommends layering training with ongoing coaching, peer mentoring, and opportunities to practice. Begin with proactive practices (community circles, affective statements) before moving into more complex restorative responses.
4. Align Policies and Systems
RJ can’t thrive if policies contradict it. Review discipline codes, referral processes, code of conducts, and handbooks to ensure alignment. Integrate RJ expectations into job descriptions and evaluations so it becomes part of everyone’s role.
5. Use Data and Storytelling
Collect data on discipline, attendance, climate, and relational trust. Share it regularly. Pair the numbers with stories, student testimonials, teacher reflections, family experiences. Restorative Justice Colorado notes that stories often shift hearts more effectively than spreadsheets. Stories from people in your community are the most powerful.
6. Provide Structural Supports
RJ needs infrastructure. A coordinator or dedicated team keeps momentum going. Communities of practice help staff learn from one another. Budgeting, scheduling, and hiring should reflect RJ priorities so the work isn’t constantly competing with “urgent” tasks.
Steps for Putting It Into Practice
Here’s a roadmap for growing collective commitment in your building or organization:
Phase | Key Activities |
Assessment & Planning | Survey staff about values, readiness, concerns. Inventory current disciplinary/relational practices and data. Identify core group of champions as an implementation team. Develop your shared why statement and goals. |
Early Training & Pilot Work | Train core team, begin using circles or relational practices with staff and in classrooms. Pilot restorative responses in selected areas of misconduct. Collect early feedback. |
Scaling & Policy Alignment | Expand training to more staff. Align practices, policies and handbooks to reflect RJ. Embed RJ in staff evaluations or job roles. Institutionalize coordinator/training/coaching. |
Reflection, Adaptation & Sustainability | Hold regular staff circles to surface challenges. Use data to monitor fidelity and impact. Adjust practices to fit school culture. Celebrate wins and share them broadly. |
What Success Might Look Like
You’ll know collective commitment is taking root when:
Staff across roles use a shared RJ language.
Restorative practices show up consistently across classrooms.
Staff feel ownership and help refine the work.
Climate, trust, and discipline indicators improve.
RJ weathers leadership changes because it’s embedded in culture.
Challenges & How to Stay the Course
Expect resistance, burnout, inconsistent practice, or time pressures. These aren’t signs of failure, they’re signs of change. Build in wellness supports, reinforce expectations, and keep returning to your shared why. Culture change often takes three to five years, as noted by the New York State School Boards Association.
Conclusion
Collective commitment is the backbone of meaningful restorative justice work. It turns RJ from a program or initiative into a living culture, one built on relationships, accountability, and shared humanity. With strong leadership, inclusive engagement, aligned systems, and ongoing support, your school can grow a restorative culture that lasts.
Resources
California Department of Education. (2025). Restorative justice practices. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/restorativepractices.asp
Duggins-Clay, P. (2022). Implementing restorative practices to strengthen school communities. Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA).
EdPost. (2021). Articles on restorative justice and school discipline. https://www.edpost.com/stories/restorative-justice-isnt-just-for-the-students-its-for-the-adults-too
Edutopia. (2023). Building Confident Educators. https://www.edutopia.org/article/confidence-in-teaching/
Davis, M. (2015). Edutopia Restorative practices resources. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-resources-matt-davis
National Institute of Justice. (2022). Restorative justice in U.S. schools: Summary findings from three randomized controlled trials. U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/304456.pdf
New York State School Boards Association. (2019). Restorative practices and school culture change. https://www.nyssba.org/clientuploads/nyssba_pdf/gr/ecb-restor-practices-02222019.pdf
Restorative Justice 101. (n.d.). Restorative justice basics. https://restorativejustice101.com/
Restorative Justice Colorado. (2016). School-based restorative practices resources. https://rjcolorado.org/app/uploads/2024/06/CO-Restorative-Practices-in-Schools-Guidelines-August-2016.pdf
Restorative Solutions. (n.d.). Restorative practices in schools. https://restorativesolutions.us/
SchoolMint. (2024). Why restorative justice programs fail. https://blog.schoolmint.com/
Script-NC. (2016). School Suspensions Are an Adult Behavior. https://scriptnc.fpg.unc.edu/resource/school-suspensions-are-an-adult-behavior/
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