agentic-govbot/templates/dispute-resolution/transformative-justice.md

Transformative Justice Dispute Resolution

A process addressing immediate harm while transforming conditions that enabled it

This dispute resolution protocol can be integrated into any governance constitution as an article on conflict resolution.

---

Article: Dispute Resolution

Section 1: Principles and Values

Core Values This community operates on seven transformative justice principles:

1. Liberation - Building a world where all can thrive
2. Accountability without punishment - Responsibility without state violence
3. Safety and support - For all involved, especially most impacted
4. Collective action - Community involvement, not isolation
5. Addressing root causes - Changing conditions that enabled harm
6. Faith in transformation - People's capacity to change and heal
7. Sustainability - Long-term commitment to change

Transformative Approach We address not just individual incidents but:

• Patterns of behavior
• Power dynamics at play
• Structural and systemic factors
• Community conditions that enable harm
• Long-term cultural change

Community Standards

• Documentation in accessible formats
• Multiple languages if needed
• Regular workshops on values and practices
• Living document that evolves
• Bot maintains current materials

Section 2: Initiating the Process

Multiple Entry Points Process can be initiated via:

• Secure online form
• Phone hotline
• Direct conversation with trained member
• Through support person or ally
• Anonymous reporting option

Initial Assessment Within 48 hours:

• Initial safety assessment
• Identify immediate needs
• Determine process appropriateness
• Form facilitation team
• Begin gathering support

Who Can Initiate Process can be started by:

• Person directly harmed
• Witnesses to harm
• Community members concerned about patterns
• Person who caused harm seeking accountability
• Support people acting on behalf of others

Section 3: Support Teams and Facilitation

Facilitation Teams Teams of 2-3 trained members:

• Guide overall process
• Coordinate different components
• Hold complexity and multiple timelines
• Connect to resources
• Maintain process integrity

Support Teams for All Parties Each person involved has support team:

• Person harmed: support, advocacy, healing resources
• Person who caused harm: accountability support, transformation work
• Community members: processing impact, staying engaged
• Support teams meet separately and coordinate

Trauma-Informed Practice All facilitators trained in:

• Recognizing trauma responses
• Creating safety
• Preventing re-traumatization
• Cultural competency
• Power analysis
• Self-care and sustainability

Section 4: Communication Norms and Ground Rules

Process Agreements Participants commit to:

• Using "I" statements about personal experience
• Active listening without interruption
• Acknowledging systemic factors alongside individual actions
• Respecting different paces of healing
• Maintaining confidentiality with specified exceptions
• Supporting long-term transformation

Safety Protocols Process includes:

• Safety planning with those harmed
• Boundaries around contact between parties
• Emergency contacts and backup plans
• Clear escalation procedures
• Regular safety check-ins
• Willingness to pause or modify process

Section 5: Assessment and Analysis

Multi-Level Analysis Comprehensive assessment examines:

• Individual harm - Specific impact on those harmed
• Behavioral patterns - History and context of actions
• Relationship dynamics - Power imbalances and history
• Community factors - Cultural norms enabling harm
• Structural factors - Systemic oppression and inequality

Understanding Root Causes Exploring questions like:

• What conditions made this harm possible?
• What systems of oppression are at play?
• What community norms need transformation?
• What resources or education were missing?
• How do we prevent future harm?

Scope and Appropriateness Most appropriate for:

• Community-based interventions
• Addressing root causes
• Pattern behavior requiring transformation
• Situations where state intervention would cause more harm
• Building community capacity for accountability

When State Systems Needed Acknowledge that sometimes:

• Immediate safety requires outside intervention
• Survivors choose to involve authorities
• Legal processes run parallel to community process
• TJ complements rather than replaces

Section 6: Voluntary Participation

Consent-Based Process Participation is voluntary:

• Those harmed decide their involvement level
• Person who caused harm encouraged but not forced
• Community members choose engagement
• Can pause or leave at any time
• Different participation levels available

When Someone Declines Process may continue focusing on:

• Support for those harmed
• Community education and prevention
• Systemic changes to prevent future harm
• Transformation work with willing participants
• Community accountability even without direct participation

Section 7: Deliberation Process

Multiple Formats Process uses various formats:

• Large group dialogue sessions
• One-on-one conversations
• Small group discussions
• Writing and reflection
• Artistic expression
• Action and practice

Trauma-Informed Pacing

• Respects different healing timelines
• Allows breaks and pauses
• No rushing toward resolution
• Honors that transformation takes time
• Regular check-ins on pacing

Participants May include:

• Core participants (harmed, harm-doer)
• Support people for all parties
• Facilitation team members
• Community stakeholders
• Witnesses and those impacted
• Content experts (when needed)

Section 8: Solution-Building

Structured Brainstorming Through facilitated process, identify solutions at multiple levels:

• Individual healing - What does person harmed need?
• Individual accountability - What work must harm-doer do?
• Relationship repair - Can/should relationship be rebuilt?
• Community education - What does community need to learn?
• Systemic change - What structures need transformation?

Addressing Multiple Levels Effective transformative justice includes:

• Immediate safety and support
• Personal transformation work
• Relationship healing (if possible/desired)
• Community education and awareness
• Policy and practice changes
• Cultural shift in community norms

Section 9: Decision-Making and Agreements

Consensus-Based Decisions prioritize those most impacted:

• Person harmed has most weight
• Others consent to support plans
• Creative, multi-faceted agreements
• Flexible and revisable over time

Types of Commitments Agreements often include:

For person who caused harm:

• Education and learning (workshops, reading, mentorship)
• Therapy or counseling
• Behavioral changes with accountability
• Restitution or repair actions
• Community service
• Regular check-ins with accountability team

For community:

• Policy changes
• Educational programming
• Resource allocation
• Cultural norm shifting
• Support structures for prevention

For those harmed:

• Healing resources and support
• Safety measures
• Decision-making power over process
• Community accountability to their needs

Section 10: Implementation and Accountability

Long-Term Commitment Transformation requires time:

• Process may span months or years
• Regular check-ins and adjustments
• Sustained community engagement
• Resources for long-term support
• Celebrating progress while maintaining accountability

Accountability Structures Include:

• Regular reporting to accountability team
• Observable behavioral changes
• Community witness and support
• Consequences for non-compliance (decided by those harmed)
• Repair of trust over time

When Commitments Aren't Met If person doesn't follow through:

• Facilitation team addresses with person
• Support team explores barriers
• May adjust expectations or timeline
• Those harmed decide on consequences
• May include separation from community

Section 11: Extending Timeline and Process Evolution

Flexible Timeline Process adapts as needed:

• May extend timeline for transformation work
• Can bring in additional expertise
• Might adapt focus while maintaining goals
• Responds to changing circumstances
• Honors that healing isn't linear

Specialist Support May bring in specialists for:

• Trauma counseling
• Addiction support
• Mental health expertise
• Cultural or language support
• Legal advice
• Youth or elder-specific support

Section 12: Reconsideration and Follow-Up

Structured Reassessment Process revisited when:

• Agreements not being implemented
• New information emerges about harm
• Harm recurs or patterns continue
• More support needed
• Ready for next phase of work

Follow-Up Process Includes:

• Review of original agreements
• Assessment of what's working
• Identification of implementation gaps
• Adjustment of expectations or support
• Recognition of growth and change
• Planning next phases

Section 13: Information Sharing and Privacy

Consent-Based Sharing Information shared based on:

• Explicit consent of those involved
• Need for safety of community
• Supporting accountability
• Educational value for community
• Always protecting most impacted

Community Learning While protecting individuals:

• Pattern-level data shared for prevention
• Educational materials developed from learnings
• Community workshops on prevention
• De-identified case studies (with consent)
• Building community capacity

Record Keeping Bot maintains:

• Process timeline and phases
• Agreements and commitments
• Check-in schedules
• Accountability tracking
• Resources and referrals
• Consent documentation

---

Implementation Notes for Bot

When supporting transformative justice process:

1. Hold complexity - Multiple timelines, participants, and goals
2. Center most impacted - Prioritize needs of those harmed
3. Track accountability - Support long-term commitment tracking
4. Respect consent - All information sharing requires permission
5. Support facilitation - Coordinate logistics for complex process
6. Connect resources - Link to community support and expertise
7. Long-term view - Transformation takes time, support sustained engagement
8. Learn and adapt - Use patterns to prevent future harm

This process works best when:

• Community committed to root cause transformation
• Resources available for long-term support
• Skilled facilitation teams in place
• Analysis of systems of oppression included
• Focus on liberation, not just resolution
• Community willing to change itself
• State alternatives needed/desired