Implementing Restorative Justice Practices in Residence Life
Residence hall communities are increasingly viewed as a perfect environment for introducing Restorative Justice Practices (RJPs). RJPs are facilitated group practices emphasizing shared understanding and repairing harm experienced in connection with the actions of one or more individuals. Are there “two sides to every story”? Sometimes three or four sides? RJPs can be particularly helpful in situations where feelings are hurt and personal, sacred space (like a dorm room) feels violated. RJPs create neutral ground to share one’s feelings on living space, how they wish to be treated within that space, and how to express values on appropriate behaviors for the space.
For many college students, moving into residence communities is quite the adjustment as they are entering a new social structure, getting to know many new people, and, for some, sharing personal living space for the first time. It is very common for conflict to emerge among students living in such tight quarters. Conflict is also common between students and RAs or Hall Directors, as students will almost inevitably enjoy themselves in a way that pushes or exceeds boundaries set by members of residence hall staff.
Being an RA or Hall Director can also be an adjustment as some may have never been in a leadership role and find it uncomfortable to enforce rules among peers. Working in residence life can also be difficult due to coworkers. Coworkers may face communication challenges of their own, putting more pressure on the rest of the staff. RJPs deconstruct the hierarchical leadership structure – at least temporarily - and allow for restorative, constructive, and often healing conversations to be more accessible for all participating.
What Makes for RJP Success in Dorms?
The University of Vermont (UVM) has done extensive work incorporating RJPs into residence life experience. UVM uses RJPs - which they call “responsive regulation” - as their “preferred method of addressing community or conduct issues with individual students or entire floors or halls. ‘Regulation is what [they] do when obligations are not being honored. Responsive regulation aims to engage actors in cooperating with the development of the details of how their obligations will be met even when their compliance could be required. Restorative justice practices show the practical paths for moving from healing to problem solving. Both seek to enlist and network involved actors who can stop bad behavior, revisit and repair its harm and build capacities for future healing and development’”. (University of Vermont, Conference Background)
Tragedy hit UVM’s residence halls when one of their students choose to end their life. RJPs had been a part of residence life protocol for only a couple weeks, but students looked to this as their means of resolution. They used RJPs, circle process specifically, to understand their feelings, fellow hall mates’ feelings, and how they planned to cope. Residence Advisors and staff working in Residence Life were amazed by the students reaching for this tool, even though only being familiar with circle process for a short time. Learn more about how UVM used RJPs during this awful time and how it brought students closer together. Read the article here: http://www.iirp.edu/article_detail.php?article_id=Njg4
To learn how UVM approached the incorporation and implementation of RJPs into their residence hall programming read, The Offspring of Restorative Justice: Understanding the Power of Restorative Practices in Residential Communities. This article provides background information on philosophies to consider in RJP and the process for implementation they used. UVM is an inspiring example and can be used as a model for other colleges and universities looking to incorporate RJPs.
Read the article here: http://www.iirp.edu/article_detail.php?article_id=NzEz
If interested in reading a concise summary on the benefits of UVM’s RJP program in dorms, check out the article, Restorative Practices Build Community in the Residence Hall, found in the University Business Magazine. You can read the article here: http://restorativeworks.net/2012/02/restorative-practices-build-community-in-the-residence-hall-university-business-magazine/
The University of Michigan also uses RJPs in resolving housing conflicts, through their Housing Department. For a detailed outline on how the University of Michigan is utilizing these practices look at this powerpoint. It discusses implementation, the several programs that use RJPs, statistics, surveys about their programs, and quotes from participants. A great resource if you are looking to incorporate RJPs into your campus’ residence life program.
Read the full powerpoint here (the second half of the powerpoint looks directly at the University of Michigan): http://www.iirp.edu/pdf/Hull-2010/Hull-2010-Pierson.pdf
Steps to Consider when Moving Forward
These are some prospects and questions your school might consider when moving to incorporate RJPs into your dorm community.
*Note: It is a basic principle of RJPs that participation of all parties is voluntary. Certainly for someone who has experienced pain or trauma connected with the actions of another – they should never be required to meet face to face with that other person. They should only do so of their free volition. *Related Note: An RJP may still be highly productive even in the absence of one or more of the parties who were immediately involved in the incident giving rise to the process.
Further Resources
For more free information on making RJPs a part of your campus or residence community, check out materials from The International Institute for Restorative Practices.
This page is all of their free webinars regarding RJPs in dorms and on campus: http://www.iirp.edu/webinars.php
If you have more resources to suggest to add to our page, please send them to us here!
For many college students, moving into residence communities is quite the adjustment as they are entering a new social structure, getting to know many new people, and, for some, sharing personal living space for the first time. It is very common for conflict to emerge among students living in such tight quarters. Conflict is also common between students and RAs or Hall Directors, as students will almost inevitably enjoy themselves in a way that pushes or exceeds boundaries set by members of residence hall staff.
Being an RA or Hall Director can also be an adjustment as some may have never been in a leadership role and find it uncomfortable to enforce rules among peers. Working in residence life can also be difficult due to coworkers. Coworkers may face communication challenges of their own, putting more pressure on the rest of the staff. RJPs deconstruct the hierarchical leadership structure – at least temporarily - and allow for restorative, constructive, and often healing conversations to be more accessible for all participating.
What Makes for RJP Success in Dorms?
The University of Vermont (UVM) has done extensive work incorporating RJPs into residence life experience. UVM uses RJPs - which they call “responsive regulation” - as their “preferred method of addressing community or conduct issues with individual students or entire floors or halls. ‘Regulation is what [they] do when obligations are not being honored. Responsive regulation aims to engage actors in cooperating with the development of the details of how their obligations will be met even when their compliance could be required. Restorative justice practices show the practical paths for moving from healing to problem solving. Both seek to enlist and network involved actors who can stop bad behavior, revisit and repair its harm and build capacities for future healing and development’”. (University of Vermont, Conference Background)
Tragedy hit UVM’s residence halls when one of their students choose to end their life. RJPs had been a part of residence life protocol for only a couple weeks, but students looked to this as their means of resolution. They used RJPs, circle process specifically, to understand their feelings, fellow hall mates’ feelings, and how they planned to cope. Residence Advisors and staff working in Residence Life were amazed by the students reaching for this tool, even though only being familiar with circle process for a short time. Learn more about how UVM used RJPs during this awful time and how it brought students closer together. Read the article here: http://www.iirp.edu/article_detail.php?article_id=Njg4
To learn how UVM approached the incorporation and implementation of RJPs into their residence hall programming read, The Offspring of Restorative Justice: Understanding the Power of Restorative Practices in Residential Communities. This article provides background information on philosophies to consider in RJP and the process for implementation they used. UVM is an inspiring example and can be used as a model for other colleges and universities looking to incorporate RJPs.
Read the article here: http://www.iirp.edu/article_detail.php?article_id=NzEz
If interested in reading a concise summary on the benefits of UVM’s RJP program in dorms, check out the article, Restorative Practices Build Community in the Residence Hall, found in the University Business Magazine. You can read the article here: http://restorativeworks.net/2012/02/restorative-practices-build-community-in-the-residence-hall-university-business-magazine/
The University of Michigan also uses RJPs in resolving housing conflicts, through their Housing Department. For a detailed outline on how the University of Michigan is utilizing these practices look at this powerpoint. It discusses implementation, the several programs that use RJPs, statistics, surveys about their programs, and quotes from participants. A great resource if you are looking to incorporate RJPs into your campus’ residence life program.
Read the full powerpoint here (the second half of the powerpoint looks directly at the University of Michigan): http://www.iirp.edu/pdf/Hull-2010/Hull-2010-Pierson.pdf
Steps to Consider when Moving Forward
These are some prospects and questions your school might consider when moving to incorporate RJPs into your dorm community.
- Training Residence Advisors to be RJP facilitators.
- Establishing what situations are opportunities to use RJPs.
- Agreeing to use RJPs as a way of building community.
- Using RJPs as a welcoming tool to new residents.
- Establishing how formally RJPs will be incorporated.
- Will RJPs be used only to facilitate minor roommate conflicts, or will RJPs be the standard protocol for handling all dorm related conflicts?
- Will there be different kinds of RJPs for different types of situations?
*Note: It is a basic principle of RJPs that participation of all parties is voluntary. Certainly for someone who has experienced pain or trauma connected with the actions of another – they should never be required to meet face to face with that other person. They should only do so of their free volition. *Related Note: An RJP may still be highly productive even in the absence of one or more of the parties who were immediately involved in the incident giving rise to the process.
Further Resources
For more free information on making RJPs a part of your campus or residence community, check out materials from The International Institute for Restorative Practices.
This page is all of their free webinars regarding RJPs in dorms and on campus: http://www.iirp.edu/webinars.php
If you have more resources to suggest to add to our page, please send them to us here!