About

“Restorative justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations, in order to heal and to put things as right as possible.”

- Howard Zehr

Starting in 2023, University of Alaska professors Dr. Rei Shimizu (University of Alaska Anchorage School of Social Work) and Dr. Ingrid Johnson (University of Alaska Fairbanks Justice Department) have brought Alaskans together each Spring to explore and expand the use of restorative justice (RJ) to address harms in our communities.

Alternating between in person and online formats, the specific objectives of each symposium vary while the overarching goals remain the same:

• Increase awareness about the possibilities of RJ;
• Empower individuals and communities to develop and expand their RJ programs; and
• Connect with each other to build support and knowledge networks.

These symposiums contribute to the University of Alaska’s (UA) mission by providing public service that emphasizes the North and its diverse peoples; contributing to Alaska’s skilled workforce and engaged citizenship; and striving to provide a welcoming, diverse, equitable, and inclusive space.