Restorative Justice

When students commit crimes, their actions affect our entire community. In order to right that wrong KCUSD in partnership with community organizations, offers a Restorative Justice Program. In alignment with current education code, KCUSD is committed to providing an opportunity for students to be held accountable in a system that holds an expectation for students to learn justice through restored relationships.

The Restorative Justice Program creates a program that ultimately brings victims and offenders together to openly examine what occurred; and in that examination to create an agreement that provides appropriate restitution as well as a bond designed to prevent offenders from committing further crimes.

Because community involvement is the key to restitution, the local community takes ownership of its youth, guiding them in a structured process that is more expedient - and usually more effective - than the overburdened judicial system.

• Participation in the program requires the consent of all parties. The meetings are organized by a neutral, trained volunteer, who is present to facilitate communication.
• A case must be referred by the case officer who determines that the case is appropriate for the Restorative Justice Process.
• The mediator will discuss how the process will go with each participant separately.
• A meeting with the victim and the offender will then occur. The mediator will set ground rules for you both to share experiences to recognize the injustice.
• Together a plan will be determined to restore equity (make things right as possible).
• You will be asked to commit to the plan and determine how you will be held accountable.
• The mediator will follow up with you.

Students have the choice of whether or not to participate in the Restorative Justice Process. Should a student choose to participate, students can help make this a constructive process by doing the following:

• Think about the offense, what happened, what it has meant to you, and how you feel about it now. 
   
• Be prepared to tell the victim what happened, to share your feelings and answer questions about the offense and listen to what the offense has meant to them. 
   
• Be sure that you know the time and place of the arranged meeting. It is very important that everyone be at the meeting at the agreed time. If you cannot attend, let the volunteer facilitator know as soon as possible.