VOICES OF DOUBT
Studies conducted in Pittsburgh and Maine have shown a different version of story:
Suspension rates and numbers of student arrests were similar, comparing schools that adopted restorative justice with those that didn't
Academic performance was even worse at schools that adopted restorative justice
Bullying and other school climate measures didn't see much of a difference
The difficulty of implementation came into light. A high level of students' buy-in is required. The training prior to actual practice and the process of organizing students in a circle for conversations are effort-consuming
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Funding, personnel, training, and monitoring
3 to 5 years' implementation process for each school
Alachua County pilot school—countrywide implementation
Cultural shift from punitive justice to restorative justice takes a top-to-bottom commitment. The public need to take time to change their mindset around the norm
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by River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding,
School Board of Alachua County Meeting, 2020.