Schools and criminal justice agencies are increasingly hiring restorative justice specialists to oversee and coordinate the implementation of restorative practices within their organization, but they cannot realize the full promise of restorative justice without leaders within the community to partner with in preventing and responding to harm. Certification in Restorative Justice Practices enhances professional skills and equips graduates to practice, train, and lead restorative work in their chosen field.
Restorative Justice is a profound understanding about justice and its essential importance to the healthy functioning of individuals, families, communities, organizations, and systems. The program blends skill development with theoretical, cultural, and spiritual understandings and strategies for organizational change, implementation, and sustainability. The fully remote curriculum is designed to develop skills and application of content through hands-on experience in the field in a 3-month practicum.
Program Structure and Timeline
- One-year virtual, synchronous Certificate Program
- Summer 2024 (July 15 - 19 & July 22 - 27)
- 11 day, online intensive course - Entire Cohort together
- Fall 2024 - Participants choose one online course of study in either:
- Restorative Justice Practice in Education Track
- Restorative Justice Practice in Criminal-Legal Systems Track
- Spring 2025
- Supervised Practicum: completed either in your workplace or another location
- June 2025
- Leading and Sustaining Change Course: online, 5-day, late afternoon/evening sessions - Entire Cohort together
Program Overview
- Participants will gain a broad knowledge of cultural, historical, and spiritual roots of restorative justice
- Our skill-based applied program is designed to equip graduates to practice, train, design, and implement restorative justice
- Program faculty are experienced restorative justice practitioners and scholars
- Focus on implementation within and adjacent to education and criminal-legal systems
- Supervised field practicum for hands-on implementation experience. May be completed either in your workplace or another location. Placement will be determined in collaboration with program faculty
- Foundational commitment to racial and social justice as integral to restorative justice
Application Materials
We wish to encourage individuals with a wide array of backgrounds and life experiences to apply to the program. A college degree is not required. In particular, those individuals who may have had prior involvement with the criminal-legal system or those who have formerly been incarcerated are welcome in our program and encouraged to apply.
Requirements
- Online application
- $50 application fee
- Personal statement - Choice of written or video submission
- Resume
Optional
- Statements of support from supervisors, mentors, teachers, or others who can speak to your interest in the field of restorative justice
- An unofficial transcript indicating the highest level of academic achievement
FAQs
What are the steps for opening a PCRJP application?
- Go to grad.suffolk.edu/apply
- Create a first-time user account. You will then be directed to a new page and emailed a link with a temporary password.
- Click on “Start New Application” toward the bottom of the page.
- Select “2024 Non-Credit” from the dropdown menu.
- Select “Restorative Justice Practices 2024” from the second dropdown menu.
- Click “Create Application”
- Access your application by clicking on “Restorative Justice Practices 2024” under “Your Applications”
What is the timeline for all PCRJP courses?
Students must take two online courses, one of which is a supervised practicum in the implementation of Restorative Practices.
Summer Intensive Course 2024
- Restorative Justice: The Core
- Dates: July 15 - 19 & July 22 - 27
- This is a daily, synchronous online course that will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fall Semester 2024
- Choose 1 of the following evening synchronous online courses (generally scheduled according to the Suffolk Academic Calendar):
- Restorative Justice Justice in Education
- Restorative Justice in the Criminal Legal System
Spring Semester 2025
- Supervised Practicum in Restorative Justice
- Schedule TBD based on the participants’ and instructors’ needs
Summer 2025
- Leading and Sustaining Change
- June 5-day late afternoon/evening session dates TBD
How much is program tuition?
The tuition rate for the 2024 - 2025 academic year will be $7,900.
Am I required to attend all of the PCRJP course sessions?
To receive the PCRJP Certificate, participants are required to attend all courses and sessions.
Is there a program deposit?
Once an offer of admissions is accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a program slot.
Is the cost of books and materials included in the program tuition cost?
Yes, we will ship the books to you once you are admitted.
Are there available scholarships?
We are committed to addressing the societal inequities that exist in our community that systematically advantage some groups of people over others. Financial assistance is limited, and decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Our first priority is for those who have been or are currently system-involved and those who have been disadvantaged systemically in our society. We rely upon the honor system, so if you feel you should be prioritized for funding, please let us know by reaching out to us via email. We will then be in touch regarding the scholarship process.
- As a non-credit program, the PCRJP is not eligible for federal financial aid
- Students are not eligible for a scholarship if their employer or another organization is paying their program tuition
What materials are required to apply to the PCRJP Program?
- Completed online application; select “Restorative Justice 2023 Summer”
- Goal Statement (Personal essay)
- An interview or post-secondary transcript may be requested
We wish to encourage individuals with a wide array of backgrounds and life experiences to apply to the program. A college degree is not required. In particular, those individuals who may have had prior involvement with the criminal-legal system or those who have formerly been incarcerated are welcome in our program and encouraged to apply.
Required Materials:
- Online application
- $50 application fee
- Personal Statement (choice of written or video submission)
- Resumé
Optional Materials:
- Statements of support or letters of recommendation from supervisors, mentors, teachers, or others who can speak to your interest in the field of restorative justice.
- Unofficial transcript indicating your highest level of academic achievement
When is the application deadline?
Application decisions are made on a rolling basis. The final application deadline is Monday, June 3, 2024.
More questions?
For more questions, contact:
Elaine Hackney
or Justine Bloch
Center for Restorative Justice
(617) 305-1991
Contact us:
[email protected]
(617) 305-1991
You may also schedule a session with us at the above email address with the subject “PCRJP Meeting.”
We look forward to meeting with you!