An Exploratory Study of Existing State Anti-Bulling Statutes

This study presents Restorative Justice and Safe-Reporting Systems as tools for correcting school bullying and suggests ‘model legislative language’ to assist states in determining what statute amendments might impact bullying at the local school level in their states. Additionally, this study presents the need for: (1) effective programs for intervening with bullies at the individual and relationship level; (2) structural strategies that interrupt bullying incidents; (3) social norm change that reduces the appeal of bullying; (4) reporting systems that can track bullying perceptions and incidents, and thereby support a climate change at each of the aforementioned levels; (5) restorative justice and restorative practice strategies and programs to deal with the harm done to all the participants, offenders, targets, and bystanders. If a program is to become effective in changing bullying behavior, all three groups involved, the targets, the offenders, and the bystanders, must be included and become part of the restorative resolution. This study builds on the work of Sameer Hinduja, and Justin W. Patchin, (2015) and Sacco, D, Silbaugh, K, Corredor, F, Casey, J, Doherty, D. (2013).

John-Robert is a senior fellow at the 4Civility Institute. He provides mediation training, ombuds training, certifications, software reporting systems, restorative justice, and behavioral transition coaching to schools, businesses and organizations. Preciously he worked in public television, as an Emmy award winning producer and station presiden