Restorative Justice in Rural Schools

Abstract

There are conflicting descriptions of rural contexts, particularly as they relate to school discipline and juvenile justice. However, there are some consistencies that can guide research and intervention attempts for youth impacted by the juvenile justice system. Specifically, when compared to more urban settings, scholars have found consistent evidence in rural areas of more referrals to law enforcement by schools, more disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system, and more punitive philosophy and outcomes overall. Further, there is consistent evidence in rural areas of challenges with access to resources for treatment and a lack of trauma-informed care, making evidence-based practices harder to implement and reentry more challenging compared to urban settings. This chapter provides recommendations and guidance for building on existing strengths of rural educators to develop restorative justice practices and reentry circles at schools that will mitigate the use of exclusionary discipline practices and support reentry following juvenile justice contact.