A Repairing Harm Conference is a process grounded in restorative justice concepts. The conference is an opportunity for responsible parties, affected parties, and community members to participate in a guided process with a trained facilitator to repair harm and rebuild trust in relationships and within the community.
The group engages in open and honest dialogue about the incident and the impact of the incident on all parties. The responsible parties take ownership for their actions and all group members are involved in collaborative, inclusive decision-making towards identifying restorative outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is involved in the process?
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Responsible parties: Students involved in an incident of alleged misconduct who have accepted responsibility for the misconduct
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Affected parties: Parties who incurred harm as a result of an incident of alleged misconduct
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Community members: Parties who are not direct recipients of harm and are committed to repairing relationships and rebuilding community
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Support person: Both the responsible and affected parties may bring a support person to the process
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Facilitator(s): Resolution Center for Student Conduct and Conflict staff or other Gonzaga University community members trained in alternative resolution processes
When is the process used?
The Resolution Center for Student Conduct and Conflict may refer a report of alleged misconduct to be resolved through a Repairing Harm Conference when:
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Student Code of Conduct violations caused direct harm to others.
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The parties who caused harm take ownership, express regret, and have a willingness to repair relationships and community.
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The affected parties are interested and willing to participate in the process.
How does the process work?
There are three steps to the Repairing Harm Conference process:
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Step 1: Pre-Conference Meeting
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The Pre-Conference Meeting serves as an opportunity for the Facilitator to meet one-on-one with all parties in the process. Parties have the opportunity to get more information about the process, ask questions, address apprehensions, and determine if they will bring a support person to the conference.
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Step 2: Repairing Harm Conference
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During the conferences, all parties tell their stories about their involvement and the impact the incident had on them. The parties work to identify the harms that have been caused by the incident and possible ways to repair the harm. Collaboratively, the parties agree on what can be done to repair relationships and community.
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Step 3: Post-Conference
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After the conference occurs, the Resolution Center for Student Conduct and Conflict review the agreement set forth by the parties. All parties receive a letter with the final agreement, including any deadlines for assignments. Responsible Parties then engage in the actions decided in the conference.
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