Restorative Justice Initiative
Supporting Victims and Communities in the Healing Process
One of the most cutting edge movements in the traditional American criminal justice system is the push to introduce restorative justice into our communities and institutions. In step with the University’s mission, “care for the person,” Marquette University Law School (MULS) offers the Restorative Justice Initiative. The Initiative has fostered exceptional community connections in Wisconsin and continues to strive for excellence in the field of public service. Under the leadership of former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske, Distinguished Professor of Law, the Initiative has brought community focus to the law school by providing the students with substantial leadership training in addition to their considerable technical legal education. The Initiative has become a resource for other restorative justice organizations in the state, formed partnerships with local community groups that work with criminal justice issues, and has been providing victim/offender dialogues for crimes of severe violence through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC), Office of Victim Services and Programs. Marquette has one of the most intensive restorative justice programs among the American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools in America, and is proud to offer this unique experience to the students.
Read our full description to view our partners within Wisconsin.
Leaders in the Field of Restorative Justice
Under the direction of former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske, Distinguished Professor of Law, the Restorative Justice Initiative will serve as a resource for victims, communities, and restorative justice organizations, as a restorative justice clinical experience for law students, and as a program promoting scholarship, research, and dialogue on restorative justice. The Initiative is committed to supporting victims and communities in the healing process by providing information and training resources, and by facilitating communication. Find out more information
Listen to Janine discuss Marquette's Restorative Justice Program.
Dr. Mark Umbreit continuing to work with Marquette Law School's Restorative Justice Initiative
In the 2005-2006 academic year, Dr. Mark Umbreit, served as the visiting Boden Professor at Marquette University Law School, and wrote the lead article in the Marquette Law Review's symposium on restorative justice, called "Restorative Justice in the Twenty First Century: A Social Movement Full of Opportunities and Pitfalls." Dr. Umbreit is a Professor and the founding Director of the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota, School of Social Work. The University of Minnesota recently recognized Dr. Umbreit with the Outstanding Community Service Award, a prestigious honor he shared with only five other members of the university system in 2006. He also serves on the faculty of the Center for Spirituality and Healing in the U.of M. Academic Health Center. He is an internationally recognized practitioner and scholar with more than 33 years of experience as a mediator, facilitator, trainer, researcher and author of six books and more than 130 other publications. As a practitioner, he specializes in facilitating a dialogue between family survivors/victims of severe violence, primarily homicide, and the offender. Dr. Umbreit is actively working with colleagues in Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine on peacemaking initiatives.
Dr. Umbreit will continue to serve as a part time faculty member at the Marquette University Law School, for the 2008-2009 academic year. He again will teach his popular classes in "Forgiveness and Healing" and "Peacemaking and Spirituality." In addition to his teaching duties, he also works with the Restorative Justice Initiative, serving as an advisor to the law students on their clinical restorative justice work.
Listen to Dr. Umbreit's explanation of Restorative Justice
The Healing Circle
Read Prof. Geske's blog entry about the video.
Upcoming Events
- December 5
New Mediator Training
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News
- Bullying in Schools–Teaching Respect and Compassion Through Restorative Processes by Janine P. Geske
- “I’m a Dominating Bully” by Alan J. Borsuk
- JSOnline.com: Bullying extending way beyond school walls, panelists say
- Parade.com: A New Kind of Criminal Justice
- Go to Prison by Andrea K. Schneider
- JSOnline.com: DVD documentary recounts pain of clergy sex abuse victims
- The Beer Summit-A Restorative Justice Experience?
- Scott Walker recognizes the Marquette Law School during National Crime Victims Rights Week
- Restorative Justice Sermon by Rev. Jerry Hancock
- JSOnline.com: Economy concerns inmates, too
- JSOnline.com: Alternatives to incarceration More »
