Restorative Justice Facilitator Code of Conduct and Standards of Training and Practice

Restorative justice practices include a variety of practices used to address the harm caused by offenses and wrong-doing. These Standards are designed to serve as fundamental ethical guidelines for persons facilitating restorative justice processes in all practice contexts. They serve three primary goals: to guide the training of facilitators that results in qualified practitioners; to inform the participants in the restorative justice process; and to promote public confidence in restorative justice as a process for repairing the harm of crime, conflict and wrong-doing while addressing the needs and concerns of the victim and other participants in the restorative justice process.


Restorative Rainbow Alliance Restorative Justice Facilitator Code of Conduct

This Facilitator Code of Conduct was written by the Restorative Rainbow Alliance and jointly adopted by the RJ Council as one of Colorado’s RJ Standards documents on October 28, 2022. The document’s format parallels the Restorative Justice Facilitator Code of Conduct and Standards of Training and Practice, first adopted by the RJ Council in 2012. The new Code adds a critical LGBTQ+ lens to these Standards, by clearly informing policies and practices that support and guide more equitable access and inclusion for LGBTQ+ communities within RJ practices and training. For more information about the Restorative Rainbow Alliance and these standards please visit https://restorativerainbowalliance.org/.


Essential Points of Restorative Justice Practices in Colorado

This document was written in partnership between the Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices (CCRJP) and the Colorado Restorative Justice Council (RJ Council) and jointly adopted in the Spring of 2020. The document’s purpose is to highlight points that, when applied, lead to successful implementation and strengthened outcomes for Restorative Justice Practices and is offered as a support and guide for individuals, organizations, and other institutions involved in and offering Restorative Justice Practices (RJP) in Colorado to uphold restorative justice principles and best practices in all aspects of their work. While this document may be used to provide guidance for those engaged in restorative work, its purpose is meant to be supportive rather than evaluative.


The 5 R’s of Restorative Practice

The Colorado RJ Council adopted as their set of values Dr. Beverly Title’s 5 R’s of Restorative Practice: Relationship, Respect, Responsibility, Repair and Reintegration.

Title, B. (2011) Teaching Peace: A Restorative Justice Framework for Strengthening Relationships. Del Hayes Press.


Colorado Restorative Practices in Schools Guidelines (Principles, Practices, Implementation and Training)

The collaborative creation of this guiding document was initiated in February 2016 by the Colorado Restorative Justice Council. Over fifty Restorative
Practices in Schools practitioners, trainers, consultants and researchers co-created the foundation for these guidelines. This document provides recommended guidelines for Restorative Practices in Schools in Colorado identifying key principles and practices. The document also provides recommendations for best practices in implementation and training for Restorative Practices in Schools.


Restorative Practices Definitions and Models

This document was adopted by the Colorado RJ Council on September 19, 2014. It provides example definitions of restorative justice and restorative practices. The document also provides a brief overview of some commonly used restorative justice processes and models. It should be noted that the language and terminology used by restorative justice practitioners has evolved some since when this document was last adopted. But the content within this document is still helpful, especially for those in need of a general overview of what RJ is and how it can be practiced. In the near future, this document along with the other guiding documents that help inform the practice of RJ in Colorado will go through a public review and comment period to ensure they reflect any evolutions of language or content.


Victim-Centered Restorative Justice

This document was created by the State RJ Council (adopted 12/14/21) to help provide guidance for RJ Programs and Practitioners who are supporting victims/survivors or harmed parties through a Restorative Justice process. The document goes on to define Victim-Centered Restorative Justice as “… Restorative Justice practices directly involving victims/survivors, is anchored in care and concern for the victim/survivor as the primary focus.  It is essential that victims/survivors are informed and have choice, safety, and support when considering and participating in a Restorative Justice process. These processes involve the victim/survivor’s direct or indirect contact with the person who caused harm.”


This training plan is the minimum basic content that should be covered in a 20 Hour Basic Restorative Justice Facilitator Training, as recommended by the Colorado Coalition of Restorative Justice Directors now the Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices. This training plan will be used by Restorative Justice Facilitator Trainers to ensure that the applicable and appropriate Standards of Training, Conduct and Practice, as outlined by the Colorado Coalition of Restorative Justice Directors and Colorado Restorative Justice State Council, are included in 20 Hour Basic Facilitator Trainings that they host. These standards are cited throughout the training plan for trainers to reference and become more familiar with how the standards inform their training.


The Colorado RJ Council’s Recommended Guidelines for Training in Restorative Practices was created and adopted on August 28, 2009 to identify minimum recommended standards for training practices. These recommendations apply primarily to trainings of facilitators of restorative practices. These guidelines are voluntary and the RJ Council cannot take responsibility for training providers or the quality of their trainings.

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