Restorative Justice in Action: New Approaches in the Most Serious Cases

Restorative justice approaches promote meaningful accountability for those who commit crimes and center the needs of crime survivors. Nonetheless, these programs are often misunderstood and underutilized by prosecutors. Although some prosecutors have used restorative justice approaches to respond to low-level criminal offenses, few have used this approach in cases involving serious, violent crimes. This panel features diverse expert perspectives to explore the effectiveness of restorative justice approaches in response to violent crimes. Building off of real-world experiences in practicing restorative justice, this panel teaches prosecutors how to implement restorative justice approaches that prioritize crime survivors. Panelists also make recommendations on how prosecutors and local communities can work together to promote and expand restorative justice initiatives. Our expert panel features Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry; Seema Gajwani, Chief of the Restorative Justice Division at the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General; and Dr. Alissa Ackerman, Professor at California State University Fullerton; and is moderated by IIP Executive Director Rachel Marshall.