Nov 2023
Video – From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice
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This video provides an overview of the Education Lab’s evaluation of the effect of restorative practices implemented in high schools across Chicago Public Schools.
Restorative practices promote the development of students’ socio-emotional learning by encouraging self-reflection, empathetic listening, and the creation of non-judgmental spaces for conflict resolution. These practices focus on equipping teachers with strategies to support students rather than suspend them
The Education Lab study found that restorative practices reduce student arrests in and outside of school and for violent and non-violent offenses, and may generate positive, genuine changes in student behavior. Schools that implemented restorative practices saw a staggering 35 percent reduction in student arrests in school and a 15 percent reduction in out-of-school student arrests. The study saw declines in arrests for both violent and non-violent offenses.
Watch the video below.
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Projects
From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice
From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice in Schools
This paper evaluates the impact of Chicago Public Schools’ adoption of restorative practices on student discipline, finding decreased suspensions and arrests, particularly for Black students.
NBER working paper – From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice
This paper evaluates the effect of restorative practices implemented in Chicago high schools, finding decreases and student arrests in and outside of school and for violent and non-violent offenses.
Becker Friedman Institute Working Paper- From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice
Read the working paper on the results of the Education Lab’s findings from a study of the implementation of restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools.
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