Restorative Justice

 

Humanities Preparatory Academy was the first school in New York City to implement a restorative justice model of school discipline in 1996. Our Fairness Panels are based on the work of Harvard Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, who revolutionized our understanding of moral development. Rather than just meting out detentions and other punitive forms of discipline, we bring together a panel of school stakeholders who help the student to reflect and agree to consequences that restore trust. The process of having to face your choices and your community while working to make amends for your actions has a powerful effect on adolescent moral development.

 

Every school in New York City currently practicing restorative justice was at some point trained by Humanities Prep staff and students.