Course Overview
Restorative justice is a broadly stated term that refers to alternative dispute resolution
processes that are mainly focused on criminal offenses. Although there is a growing demand
for the process, it often runs counter to many western societies demand that crime be
punished which is referred to as retributive justice. However, this approach is becoming
more and more unsustainable in terms of societal impacts on offender families and on
victims who often do not experience resolution for the harms they have suffered.
This course will present the history and terminology of restorative justice along with the
four cornerstones of inclusion, encounter, amends and reintegration. You will learn about
the unique application of the INACCORD model of restorative justice and how its use of
surveys and follow up measurement might help alleviate some of the current criticism of
restorative justice in the United States. A major component of the course will be your
exploration of a central topic of interest and the research and preparation of a research
paper on this topic.
Prerequisites
MWB 601
Required Knowledge
N/A
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Identify historical basis of restorative justice.
2. Explore common terminology used in the restorative justice field.
3. Articulate the four cornerstones of restorative justice.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the INACCORD model of restorative justice.
5. Articulate common critiques of the field and possible solutions to address deficiencies.
6. Prepare a sound research paper.
Materials
Vann Ness, D. & Strong, K. (2015). Restoring justice: an introducing to restorative justice.
(5th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Grading
Mediators With Borders Grading Policy
| Available Grades |
|---|
| A = 90-100% |
| B = 80-89% |
| C = 70-79% |
| D = 60-69% |
| F= Below 60% |
Course Requirements
Course Activities:
Before beginning your course work, be sure to review the policies of Mediators Without Borders in the Getting
Started Lesson. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please feel free to direct them to your
instructor.
Reaction Papers—45%
Each paper is worth 15% of your total grade. These papers are responsive writing exercises
designed to test skills learned in each module.
Term Paper
This final paper is worth 35% of your grade and will involve more time than the reaction
papers. The length is 10 pages and any papers under or over 10 pages will receive points
deducted from the total. This is a formal paper and must include an introductory paragraph
and concluding paragraph and be well organized and research properly cited.
You will have a chance to have your instructor review your outline and beginning sources
during Module 6 in preparation for this final paper.
Participation in Weekly Online Discussions—20%
Each required discussion is worth 5% of your final grade. A series of discussion questions
will be posted during the course. By registering for a web-based course, you have made a
commitment to participate regularly with your instructor in online discussions. Because this
is a self-paced course, you are not required to interact with other students. However, your
posts will be available to all students and you and they may comment and you may interact
as you would like. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of interactions with
others, knowing that you will all be interacting at different times throughout the course.
To lessen the risk of losing your work, do not write major discussion postings directly into a
discussion posting. Instead, compose and check your work in other software (such as
Microsoft Word) and then paste your text into the new posting.
FORMATTING AND STYLE FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
All paper assignments in this course require the American Psychological Association (APA) style for formatting and references. You should be prepared to learn the necessary elements of APA style, and the course provides tools and guidelines to this end.
Unless otherwise specified, online discussion postings and responses do not require APA formatting or formal citations and references. You should always clearly state the basis, in the course material or your own research, for what you write in discussion postings.
COURSE ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:
Course attendance and participation are required. Your activity will be tracked within the campus and available to your instructor. If you appear inactive for any length of time, it is your responsibility to inform your instructor as to the reasons for your absence so he or she can assist you in getting back on track.
Instructor Participation
Your instructor will:
- Post a welcome message within 48 hours of your enrollment being received by Mediators Without Borders.
- Schedule real-time office hours or by individual appointment.
- Will communicate with you through the campus communication tools, including internal course messaging, as well as by email.
- Respond to your communications within two business days.
- Provide you with formative feedback midway through the course based on work submitted to that point.
- Grade all formative assignments within 4 business days in 8-week courses, and will grade final summative work within 5 business days after the end of the term.
Policies
You are responsible for being familiar with all the policies that are related to your activity in this course. Complete information on these policies can be found in the Getting Started Lesson at the beginning of the course modules.
Course Schedule
This course is entirely self-paced and must be complete within 6 months of starting.
|
Module and Title |
Course Module Matrix Required Reading |
Writing and Discussion Assignments |
|---|---|---|
|
Getting Started |
Student Introduction |
|
| Module 1: Overview of Restorative Justice |
During this module you will: Read: Restoring Justice Text. • Chapter One: Visions and Patterns • Chapter Two: A Brief History of Restorative Justice • Chapter Three: Restorative Justice • Module notes |
Required Discussion: • Restoring Justice Questions There is no required paper this week. |
| Module 2: Inclusion and Encounter |
Read: Restoring Justice Text. • Chapter Four: Inclusion • Chapter Five: Encounter • Module notes |
Required Paper |
| Module 3: Amends and Reintegration |
During this module you will: Read: Restoring Justice Text. • Chapter Six: Amends • Chapter Seven: Reintegration • Module notes |
Required Discussion: • Restoring Justice Questions There is no required paper this week. |
| Module 4: INACCORD model of Restorative Justice |
Read: Restoring Justice Chapter 8: Making restorative justice happen. • A Comparison of Four Restorative Conferencing Models.pdf • Module notes |
Required Paper |
| Module 5: Restorative Justice Critques and Responsive Regulation |
During this module you will:
Read: |
Required Discussion |
| Module 6: Restorative Justice Research |
During this module you will: Read: Restorative justice in US schools: a research review. (February 2016). Retrieved June 10,2017 at https://jprc.wested.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/RJ_Literature- Review_20160217.pdf Johnstone, G. (September 29,2014). Restorative justice in prisons: methods, approaches and effectiveness. Retrieved June 10,2017 at https://rm.coe.int/16806f9905 An introduction to family group conference. (n.d.) Retrieved June 10, 2017at http://www.netcare-ni.com/media/uploads/Practice%20and%20theory.pdf Johnstone, G. & Brennan, I. (November 18, 2014). Victim-offender encounters for restorative justice dialogue: a review.Retrieved June 11, 2017 at http://restorative-justice.eu/bb/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/02/WS-1.-D1.3b-VOM-review.pdf |
Required Paper |
| Module 7: The Impact of Culture on Restorative Justice |
During this module you will: Read: Restoring Justice Text Chapter 9: Toward a Restorative system White, M (2011). Rethinking generation gaps in the workplace: focus on shared values. UNC, Keenan Flagler Business School. Retrieved June 13, 2017 athttps://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/executive- development/about/~/media/C8FC09AEF03743BE91112418FEE286D0.ashxModule Notes |
Required Discussion |
| Module 8: Transformation |
Read:
Restoring Justice Text. |
Required Research Paper |
Grade Weights
|
Activity/Assessment |
% of final grade |
|---|---|
|
Reaction Papers (3 Total) |
45% |
| Discussions (4 Total) | 20% |
| Term Paper (1 Total) | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
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