Restorative justice and restorative practices are seeing an ever-increasing popularity by practitioners working in the criminal justice field. While restorative practices exist on a continuum from informal to formal practices, the vast majority of practices employed in the criminal justice system lie within the formal end of the spectrum. The question this raises, is what alternative means can be employed to practice restorative justice in a more informal manner. One solution to this problem that the presenters will propose in this presentation is to integrate art in restorative practices to 1) engage individuals’ personal creativity; 2) render restorative practices more accessible; 3) embed restorative justice in everyday life goals; and 4) enhance self-actualization and psychological safety for individuals. This presentation will draw on action-based research based out of London, Ontario, making use of experiences gathered in a variety of supportive environments.
Presented at the 2023 HSJCC Virtual Conference on November 15, 2023.
Presenters:
Justin Langille
JUSTICE WORKER AND PHOTO-BASED ARTIST
St. Leonard’s Community Services, London & Region
Mick Kunze
MANAGER, FORENSIC AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM
St. Leonard’s Community Services, London & Region
