A Restorative Conference invites participation into a safe, carefully facilitated conversation. Restorative Conferencing is always voluntary for all participants and the entire process is confidential.
Restorative Conferencing can be an effective process for repairing relationships during, or in the wake of, conflict. It provides an opportunity for exploring the roots of conflict, enhancing mutual understanding, and supporting individual and collective healing.
Restorative Conferencing is often used in cases where one person(s) has caused specific harm to another or others. In criminal justice parlance, these conferences are often called Victim-Offender Conferences (VOC) or Victim-Offender Mediations (VOM). When harm has occurred, those responsible for causing the harm and those harmed by the actions/behavior of others come together to discuss what happened, the impact of the harm, and what can be done to best repair it. Often, members of the community that has been impacted by the harm, are invited to participate in the conference. As with other participants, they are encouraged to share both how they have been impacted and how they can help support efforts toward restitution and reparation.