The Case for Restorative Justice: A Crucial Adjunct to the Social Work Curriculum

ABSTRACT. This paper discusses the significance of restorative jus-tice practices and orientations for social work education. It describes the four basic forms of restorative justice-victim-offender conferencing, community reparative boards, family group conferencing, and healing circles, with special relevance to social work. Learning about principles and practice of restorative justice is important, if social work is to pro-vide leadership in policy innovation and program development. Fol-lowing the overview, this paper provides suggestions for integrating restorative content on this timely topic throughout the social work cur-riculum. doi:10.1300/J067v26n03_04 [Article copies available for a fee fro