Restorative Justice in U.S. Schools: A Research Review
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Researchers have identified several reasons why more schools and districts are embracing restorative justice, including:
- Zero-tolerance policies have led to larger numbers of youth being suspended or expelled with no evidence of positive impact on school safety
- There is racial/ethnic disparity in what youth receive school punishments and how severe their punishments are, even when controlling for the type of offense
- More school misbehavior is being handed over to the police (particularly with programs that have police in schools, thus contributing to a trend toward a “school-to-prison pipeline”
- Research strongly links suspension and other school discipline to failure to graduate
This report, produced by the WestEd Justice & Prevention Research Center, offers a comprehensive review of the literature on restorative justice in U.S. schools. Readers will learn about key issues, models of restorative justice, and summarizing from studies conducted in the field.
Visit the Restorative Justice in U.S. Schools: A Research Review resource page to learn more and download a free copy.
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