Setting Relations Right in Restorative Practice: Broadening Mindsets and Skill Sets

Setting Relations Right in Restorative Practice is a practical guide to using restorative processes, both in justice systems, to provide a healing response to harm, and in broader community contexts, to help people co-exist peacefully. Restorative processes can help to establish, maintain, deepen, and repair relationships, and to neutralise the conflict associated with negative relationships. The result is less conflict within people, between people, and between groups, and increasing individual and community wellbeing. These complex goals can be distilled to the single principle of setting relations right.

The authors distil lessons from their decades of work at the frontline of restorative innovation. They outline an accurate, accessible theory that informs a restorative mindset, and describe in detail the corresponding skill set. Succinct, engaging case studies include refinements to existing programs in justice systems. Other case studies include the innovations of restorative responses to institutional abuse and to family violence and sexual harm, initiatives to increase psychological safety in schools and workplaces, and programs that support restorative ways-of-working across whole cities or regions. By applying elements from successful programs, practitioners can realise the broader reforming potential of restorative practice.

This book is essential reading for restorative practitioners, administrators, and policymakers, for students and researchers – indeed, for anyone interested in the power and potential of restorative practice and other forms of deliberative decision-making.

David B Moore is an independent consultant and academic, supporting individuals to communicate constructively and organisations to change adaptively. David was involved in pioneering restorative reforms in Australia, North America, the UK, and Norway. He was a founding member of the Australian Association for Restorative Justice. He is currently a principal external advisor to redress schemes and regional service reform projects.

Alikki Vernon teaches and facilitates restorative practice in government, non-government, and community organisations. As an academic, she coordinated innovative negotiation and conflict management courses, emphasising practice skills. She provides expertise for restorative programs that address complex matters in justice, health, other workplaces, and regional communities, and convenes a national community of practice for practitioners.