Restorative Justice Works (Just Not Like That)

School for School Counselors Podcast · Apr 6, 2026 · 33m

You sat in the circle.You heard the apology.And you knew… nothing actually changed.Restorative justice can work in schools- the research supports that.But the versions most campuses are implementing...Are something else entirely.Research describes restorative practices as structured, resourced, and time-intensive.What most schools are doing is faster, lighter, and handed off.That's how school counselors end up in the middle of things:Facilitating conversations that aren't meant to be rushedTrying to facilitate a process you were never really trained to leadKnowing the outcome doesn’t match…