Schools and criminal-legal agencies are increasingly hiring restorative justice specialists to oversee and coordinate the implementation of restorative practices within their organization. However, they cannot realize the full promise of restorative justice without community leaders to partner with in preventing and responding to harm. Certification in Restorative Justice Practices enhances professional skills and builds the capacity of graduates to deepen their practices and tailor them to their setting.
Restorative Justice is a profound understanding about justice and its essential importance to the healthy functioning of individuals, families, communities, organizations, and systems. Our 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 apply the content through hands-on experiences in the field in a 3-month practicum.
Program Structure & Timeline
One-year virtual, synchronous Certificate Program
| Summer 2025 (July 21 - 25, July 28 - August 1) | 10 day, online intensive course | Entire Cohort together |
| Fall 2025 | Participants choose one online course of study in either:
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| Spring 2026 | Supervised Practicum | Completed either in your workplace or another location |
| June 2026 | Leading and Sustaining Change Course 5 online sessions, late afternoon/evening on a Weekday (typically Thursdays) |
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 build the capacity of graduates to deepen their practices and to tailor them to their setting
- 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 encourage individuals with a wide array of backgrounds and life experiences to apply to the program. 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. A college degree is not required.
Requirements
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available in early 2025.
- Submit a completed application—the priority application deadline is May 12, 2025
A limited number of applications submitted after May 12 may be considered on a rolling, space-available basis until May 30, 2025 - Personal statement - Choice of written or video submission
- Resumé
Optional Materials
- 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