The Restorative Justice 101 Training:

Traditionally, restorative justice has been an alternative approach within the criminal justice system that focuses on the personally identified needs of the victims, the offenders, and impacted community members, instead of focusing solely on satisfying abstract legal principles and/or punishing the offender.

Neuroscience now shows evidence that restorative practices make changes in the brain that coincide with positive behavior change.  Restorative Justice gives power back to those who have been harmed and the community surrounding the harmed as well as having a positive impact on those who have committed the harm.

The RJ 101 Training takes restorative justice philosophies and principles and moves beyond the criminal justice system to trainees’ daily personal and professional spheres of influence.  To date, RJ 101 trainees have included teachers, school counselors, nurses, psychologists, business persons, personnel from sex offender treatment programs, community activists, clergy, former military, and parents.  All graduates have found RJ 101 delivers how restorative practices provide positive productive alternatives that lead to more satisfying conflict transformation outcomes within their families, neighborhoods, communities, and work environments.  

RJ 101 is approved for 6.5 hours of CEs for Educators, Nurses, and Mental Health Professionals and 5.5 hours of CLEs for Attorneys for an additional fee.  

Restorative Justice 101 Training Objectives:

  1. Learn the history and philosophy and principles of restorative justice and restorative practices. 
  2. Apply a restorative lens to work with those who have been harmed, those who have harmed, and the community.
  3. Experience a simulated interactive restorative justice conference.
  4. Explore applications for restorative justice practices at home, work, school, and in the community.
RJ 101 program evaluation data shows that 100% of RJ 101 Training graduates rated this training as “Very Good” and “Excellent.”  One hundred percent increased their understanding and knowledge of restorative practices and how to apply it to everyday life.  All graduates indicated they would recommend this training to others.

This training is available by contract arrangement by organizations, community groups, and corporations.

RJ 101 Creators & Facilitators

Michele Braley, MSW, LICSW is the Program Manager and a youth conference facilitator for the Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership. In addition to youth conference facilitation, she facilitates victim offender dialogues in crimes of severe violence with the Minnesota Department of Corrections.  Michele is also an adjunct faculty member in the joint School of Social Work program offered by St. Catherine University and the University of St. Thomas.  

Donna Minter, PhD, LP is the Founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute.  She teaches Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience-The STAR Training, which integrates concepts of restorative justice, trauma healing and resilience, nonviolent conflict transformation and broadly-defined spirituality.  Donna is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Forensic Psychology Examiner in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
For additional information and questions, please contact the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute. 

Training Dates:

Restorative Justice 101:
Training for Practice in Everyday Life
Friday, November 17, 2017
Minneapolis, MN