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

Restorative Justice Dispute Resolution

A collaborative process emphasizing healing relationships and addressing harm through community engagement rather than punitive approaches

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

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Article: Dispute Resolution

Section 1: Principles and Values

Core Values This community centers on:

• Healing over punishment
• Accountability to those harmed
• Community wholeness
• Honest communication
• Personal responsibility
• Relationship restoration

Restorative Approach Rather than asking "What rule was broken and what punishment is deserved?", we ask:

• Who has been harmed?
• What do they need?
• Whose obligation is it to meet those needs?
• How can the community support this process?

Community Standards

• Guidelines shared through printed handbooks
• Available in online documents
• Visual displays in community spaces
• New member orientation includes restorative values
• Bot maintains current documentation

Section 2: Initiating Restorative Circles

When to Use Restorative Circles Appropriate for:

• Harm between community members
• Trust breakdowns requiring repair
• Conflict affecting multiple people
• Situations needing community support
• Accountability without punishment

Submitting a Request Individuals submit request forms via @govbot including:

• Description of the harm
• Who was affected
• What outcomes are desired
• Willingness to participate in circle
• Any safety considerations

Coordinator Response Coordinators acknowledge receipt within 24 hours:

• Confirm suitability for restorative circle
• Begin preparatory meetings
• Identify circle keeper
• Schedule the circle
• Prepare all participants

Section 3: The Circle Keeper

Role of Circle Keeper Trained circle keepers:

• Guide discussions using talking pieces
• Ensure equitable participation
• Hold space for difficult conversations
• Maintain focus on healing and accountability
• Do not impose solutions
• Trust the circle process

Circle Keeper Training Circle keepers complete training in:

• Restorative justice principles
• Facilitation techniques
• Trauma-informed practices
• Community values and culture
• Managing difficult dynamics
• Self-care and boundaries

Selection of Circle Keeper

• Community maintains pool of trained keepers
• Coordinator matches keeper to situation
• Participants can request different keeper
• Bot tracks keeper assignments and availability

Section 4: Circle Format and Ground Rules

Physical Setup Circles use intentional space:

• Circular seating arrangement (equality)
• Centerpiece with symbolic objects
• Talking piece passed for speaking
• Comfortable, private setting
• All participants at equal level

Ground Rules Circle participants commit to:

• Speak from personal experience ("I" statements)
• Listen deeply without interrupting
• Respect the talking piece
• Maintain confidentiality
• Speak with respect and without blame
• Honor the process even when difficult
• Care for self and others

The Talking Piece

• Only person holding piece may speak
• Passes around circle sequentially
• Can be passed without speaking
• Ensures all voices heard equally
• Slows conversation for reflection

Section 5: Circle Process and Phases

Preparation Phase Before the circle:

• Circle keeper meets individually with participants
• Explains process and addresses concerns
• Determines who should be invited
• Prepares guiding questions
• Ensures safety and readiness

Opening Circle begins with:

• Welcome and gratitude for participation
• Explanation of circle process
• Review of ground rules and talking piece
• Opening ceremony or reading
• Initial go-around for introductions

Sharing Perspectives Multiple rounds with talking piece:

• Person harmed shares their experience
• Impact on their life and wellbeing
• What they need to heal
• Person who caused harm shares their perspective
• Community members share observations

Exploring Harm and Needs Guided rounds exploring:

• Full scope of the harm
• Ripple effects through community
• Root causes or context
• What healing looks like
• What accountability means here

Building Agreement Working toward consensus on:

• Acknowledgment of harm
• Specific repair actions
• Behavioral commitments
• Support needed from community
• Timeline and follow-up

Closing Circle concludes with:

• Summary of agreements
• Appreciation for participants
• Closing ceremony or words
• Scheduling follow-up if needed
• Releasing the circle

Section 6: Assessment and Scope

Harm Assessment Circle evaluates:

• Participant perspectives on what happened
• Individual and collective needs
• Community impact and concerns
• Capacity for repair
• Resources required

Suitable Situations Most interpersonal conflicts including:

• Conflicts between members
• Code of conduct violations
• Harm to community trust or safety
• Situations requiring collective response
• Relationship breakdowns

Adapted or Redirected For situations involving:

• Ongoing safety risks (adapted with protection)
• Legal matters (complement to legal process)
• Severe power imbalances (additional support)
• Participant unwillingness (voluntary process)

Voluntary Participation

• Entirely voluntary for all parties
• Pressure or coercion undermines process
• Alternative paths available
• Non-participation doesn't mean no accountability

Section 7: Circle Participants

Core Participants Typically includes:

• Person(s) who experienced harm
• Person(s) who caused harm
• Circle keeper(s)
• Support people for primary parties

Additional Participants May also include:

• Community members affected by harm
• Witnesses to incident
• Community leaders or elders
• People who can support repair
• Family or close friends (as support)

Determining Participants Through preparation phase:

• Primary parties identify who should attend
• Circle keeper assesses appropriateness
• Community representatives invited
• Right-sized for productive dialogue
• Typically 6-15 people

Section 8: Resolution and Agreements

Consensus-Based Decisions Agreements require consensus:

• Focus on meeting needs of harmed
• Person who caused harm's input valued
• Community role in support and accountability
• Circle keeper ensures agreement feasibility
• All participants agree to support plan

Types of Agreements Common outcomes include:

• Acknowledgment and naming of harm
• Apologies (when genuine)
• Specific repair actions (restitution, service)
• Behavioral commitments going forward
• Relationship-rebuilding plans
• Community support commitments
• Follow-up circle scheduling

Documenting Agreements

• Circle keeper documents consensus
• All participants review and sign
• Submitted to @govbot for tracking
• Follow-up dates specified
• Accountability measures included

Section 9: Implementation and Follow-Up

Supporting Implementation Community support includes:

• Resources needed for repair actions
• Mentors or accountability partners
• Regular check-ins on progress
• Celebrating successful steps
• Addressing obstacles that arise

Follow-Up Circles Scheduled follow-up circles:

• Review agreement implementation
• Address any new concerns
• Acknowledge progress and growth
• Adjust agreements if needed
• Celebrate repair and healing

When Agreements Aren't Met If commitments not fulfilled:

• Coordinator contacts involved parties
• Understand barriers to completion
• Convene circle to address issues
• May modify agreements
• May refer to alternative processes

Section 10: When Circle Process Doesn't Work

Alternative Options If circle is not successful:

• May reconvene later with more preparation
• Try different circle keeper or format
• Add more support for participants
• Refer to mediation for direct dialogue
• Connect to professional resources
• Consider other accountability processes

Not a Failure When circles don't resolve everything:

• Partial progress still valuable
• Seeds planted for future healing
• Community understanding deepened
• Not all harm repairs quickly
• Process itself can be healing

Section 11: Reconsideration and Appeal

When to Reconvene Process can reopen when:

• Agreements aren't fulfilled
• New information emerges
• Healing remains incomplete
• Relationships need more work
• Community impact continues

Requesting Follow-Up Circle Any participant may request by:

• Contacting coordinator or @govbot
• Explaining need for reconvening
• Renewed focus on unresolved concerns
• Fresh circle with same or new keeper
• Community remains committed to healing

Section 12: Information and Privacy

Confidentiality Circle maintains confidentiality:

• Details remain within circle
• Participants don't share specifics outside
• Exceptions only for safety concerns
• Agreements may be shared as needed for implementation

Community Learning While protecting privacy:

• Anonymized statistical summaries shared annually
• Patterns help improve community
• Success stories (with permission) inspire others
• Process learnings shared with circle keepers

Record Keeping Bot maintains:

• Request and response timeline
• Circle keeper assignments
• Agreement documentation
• Follow-up schedules
• Anonymized outcome data

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Implementation Notes for Bot

When supporting restorative justice circles:

1. Honor the process - Respect the deliberate, relational nature
2. Support circle keepers - Provide logistics and documentation support
3. Track commitments - Help with accountability and follow-up
4. Protect privacy - Maintain confidentiality of circle content
5. Enable healing - Focus on repair not punishment
6. Community connection - Help mobilize community support
7. Long-term view - Understand healing takes time

This process works best when:

• Community values relationships and healing
• Time invested in preparation and follow-up
• Skilled circle keepers available
• Participants willing to be vulnerable
• Community willing to support repair
• Focus on transformation, not punishment