id: restorative-conference
title: Restorative Conference
description: >-
  A structured meeting bringing together those harmed, those who caused harm,
  and affected community members to address what happened and what is needed
  to repair it. Rooted in restorative justice traditions from Maori and
  Indigenous practices and widely adapted in criminal justice and schools.
source: International Institute for Restorative Practices
source_url: https://www.iirp.edu/
tags: [restorative, justice, repair, conflict]
forked_from: null
image: null
steps:
  - headline: Prepare participants
    description: >-
      A facilitator meets separately with those harmed, those who caused
      harm, and supporters of each, to explain the process and confirm
      willingness to participate.
  - headline: Tell what happened
    description: >-
      The person who caused harm describes what they did and what they were
      thinking at the time. Those harmed describe the impact on them.
  - headline: Identify the harm
    description: >-
      Together the group names who was affected and how — including family,
      friends, and the wider community.
  - headline: Build an agreement
    description: >-
      Participants propose what is needed to repair the harm — apologies,
      restitution, behaviour change, support — and agree on specifics.
  - headline: Follow up
    description: >-
      A follow-up meeting checks whether the agreement has been kept and
      whether further repair is needed.
outcome: >-
  Those harmed are heard; those who caused harm take responsibility; an
  agreed repair plan is created and reviewed.
practice: >-
  Preparation is most of the work. Never convene a conference without
  individual meetings first. The facilitator holds the process, not the
  outcome.