The potential and practicality of restorative justice: A qualitative study examining the perceptions of staff members about its implementation in an Illinois high school district

Carter, Lauren

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120302 Copy

Description

Title

The potential and practicality of restorative justice: A qualitative study examining the perceptions of staff members about its implementation in an Illinois high school district

Author(s)

Carter, Lauren

Issue Date

2023-04-21

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Pak, Yoon

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Pak, Yoon

Committee Member(s)

• Hale, Jon
• Mason, Curtis
• Flores, Osly J

Department of Study

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ed.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Restorative Justice
• High Schools
• School Discipline
• Implementation

Abstract

As schools begin to reckon with the political and social calls to reform policing, discriminatory discipline, and the school-to-prison pipeline, many schools have looked to restorative justice (RJ) as a means of improving overall school climate and disproportionate discipline data. The implementation of restorative justice can range, with some schools implementing relationship-building practices to others adopting a school-wide model. Several school districts have published implementation guides to aid others in this process, but research has yet to catch up with the implementation across the U.S. This dissertation research used a qualitative methodology to examine one Illinois district’s staff perceptions about its implementation process. The research questions for this study were as follows: 1) What are the perceptions and experiences of the district’s staff and administration in implementing RJ? 2) What key factors were identified as successful in implementing RJ by staff/admin? What key factors were identified as a hindrance to successful implementation? Through the use of interviews and a survey, staff members were asked to reflect on their knowledge of restorative justice, their perception of how the implementation process had gone so far, and what the future might hold for the district in its restorative work. The findings of the interviews and survey describe a rocky implementation process, with obstacles both in and out of the district’s control. The staff members also describe inconsistent training, unclear communication, and lack of a clear plan as impacting the restorative justice process so far. Despite this, many staff remain hopeful about RJ’s future in the district, although that comes with much caution and uncertainty. This study is consistent with many of the challenges found in the available research, although it does highlight some missteps that other school districts might be able to avoid.

Graduation Semester

2023-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Lauren Carter

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