Objectives of the Fellowship
The International Fellowship of Restorative Justice Practitioners (IFRJP) is an ambitious RJ4All initiative that aims to connect and empower individuals and services delivering restorative justice globally. Operating within the “restorative justice for all” spirit of our international NGO, the Fellowship is a free global endeavour with the following objectives:
Create a pool of approved restorative justice experts, practitioners and services that RJ4All can tap into for commissioning case work and other services either face-to-face or online.
Connect restorative justice experts, practitioners with researchers and policy makers tapping into our free Restorative Justice Research Network (RJRN).
Map existing restorative justice providers globally, connect & support them and promote our Restorative Justice Practice Framework to drive best practice.
Capacity-build restorative justice service providers with training courses and the Diploma in Restorative Justice Practice, campaigns and information exchange; support RJ4All Education by reviewing new educational initiatives through its Approval Board
Provide voice and representation to the restorative justice global movement and promote the International Restorative Justice Pledge and solidarity.
Fellowship impetus: Supporting an innovative, organic & community-led restorative justice practice globally
The fall and rise of restorative justice through history signifies not only its strengths, but also its weaknesses as an alternative form of conflict resolution, and as a peace-making process that aims to restore harm (Gavrielides, 2011). I have written and spoken openly about my strong feelings and evidence that I collected highlighting the community-led and community-born nature of restorative justice. This very organic nature of restorative justice is what creates its underlying ethos (Gavrielides, 2007), and which we must safeguard.
And there is a difference between restorative justice and restorative justice practice…
Read more!
While the former can guide our ethics and way of living (Gavrielides 2005; 2013), the latter can intercept formal justice procedures whether these belong to the criminal or civil law sphere, institutional conflicts or indeed any dispute that has taken a top-down resolution route.
Restorative justice can return conflicts to parties but while doing so we must take into consideration its fluid and adjustable nature. At the same time, it must be delivered according to its founding values and original purpose of providing restoration when other processes either failed or were not preferred by parties. Luckily, there are not many disagreements as to what constitutes the core restorative justice values. However, this is not the case when it comes to its standards, who gets to practise and who doesn’t, what practice to choose and how to certify or accredit. I have written extensively about the power-interest battles that have weakened the restorative justice movement (Gavrielides 2021; 2008).
To this end, RJ4All implements its own Restorative Justice Practice Framework, which has been put together in consultation with restorative justice practitioners and is based on the extant literature and available best practice evidence. The Framework defines who qualifies to act as a “restorative justice practitioner”, “a senior restorative justice practitioner” and as a “restorative justice service”.
The Framework has been drawn in line with RJ4All’s position against the standardisation of restorative justice. The Framework aims to honour the agreed core restorative justice values and principles for delivering a safe, impartial, confidential, fair, voluntary and high-quality restorative justice practice that is free from domination, discrimination, bias and power abuse. It is expected that anyone practising restorative justice on behalf of RJ4All that they follow our Framework and abide by the values of our International Restorative Justice Pledge. We are determined to deliver our global vision for restorative justice for all!
Dr. Theo Gavrielides
RJ4All Founder & Director
Open Call for London-based Restorative Justice Practitioners
RJ4All is seeking qualified Restorative Justice Practitioners to deliver interventions in cases involving gender-based violence, hate crime, and community tensions. This paid consultancy role includes facilitating victim-offender mediation, family group conferencing, and restorative circles, and managing cases from initial assessment through to follow-up.
While some aspects of the role can be carried out remotely, case delivery will take place at RJ4All’s Rotherhithe Community Centre in London. The position offers a daily rate of £110–£120, depending on experience.
Successful applicants will be required to join the International Fellowship of Restorative Justice Practitioners in order to be formally recognised as RJ4All Restorative Justice Practitioners.
Find out how we manage restorative justice cases
Applicants are encouraged to first learn how referrals for casework take place at RJ4All, what types of harm we address and the steps we take to ensure that we honour the ethos and values of restorative justice. We are committed to delivering only high quality restorative justice practice that is holistic and provides a wrap around support. We have enhanced safeguarding procedures and policies, as well as an up-to-date equality and diversity plan drawn from international and domestic human rights conventions and best practice guidance. Practitioners are also expected to endorse our user-led ethos, and our bottom up approach to everything we do.
Applicants who are successful will require to comply with the RJ4All Restorative Justice Practice Framework. This is an up-to-date guide in implementing restorative justice through its practices of victim-offender mediation, circles, conferences and restorative justice boards. It applies to both direct and indirect restorative justice whether conducted face-to-face, or online. The Framework provides key definitions, framing restorative justice practice within international and national statutory regulations.
Free & Easy Application
It is easy and free to apply. We encourage practitioners and services from around the world to apply. Our vision is to deliver restorative justice globally. We only need to ensure that your values are aligned with ours by joining for free the International Restorative Justice Pledge.
Before you proceed with this application, we need to ask that you join the RJ4All International Restorative Justice Pledge. This is to ensure that RJ4All and you, the applicant, are aware of the values guiding restorative justice practice at our institute, as well as our entire ethos.
Similar to joining this Fellowship, it does not cost anything to join the pledge. In fact, by doing so you will be joining a world movement for peace and restoration.
If you also like to join the RJ4All Membership please follow this link.
How your application will be assessed
The IFRJP Assessment Panel
We accept applications on an ongoing basis independently of location or seniority. Applications are stored in a secured server and assessed on a quarterly basis. Assessment is based on the RJ4All Restorative Justice Framework, which defines who qualifies to be a “restorative justice practitioner”, a “senior restorative justice practitioner” and a “restorative justice service”. An extract of the Framework can be downloaded from here, including the related definitions.
Applications will be assessed by the IFRJP Assessment Panel whose key purpose is to evaluate and assess applications from individual restorative justice practitioners who wish to join the IFRJP.
Each assessment is carried out by three members of the panel (1 RJ4All staff and 2 external restorative justice experts). The selected panel members will review and evaluate each application individually by assessing applicants’ qualifications, experience, and adherence to ethical standards in accordance with the organisation’s criteria, based on the candidates’ form submission and CV. Their assessments are then submitted to the RJ4All Director for the final decision on each candidate. Equal voting rights are granted to each panel member, ensuring fairness in the decision-making process. Transparency and accountability are upheld throughout the process. Once approved, you will be joining the Fellowship and your details listed on our Fellowship page. If your application is rejected, we will explain why and support you to progress aspects that may have led to your rejection.
Please refer to the Terms of Reference for more information on how the Panel evaluates and assesses applications from individual restorative justice practitioners wishing to join the IFRJP.
Chair of the Panel
Theo Gavrielides
London, UK
Justice and Human Rights
The Panel members
Lorenn Walker
Waialua, Hawaii, US
Health educator & restorative lawyer using public health approaches to prevent injustice and crime
__________________________
Ram Tiwari
Kathmandu, Bāgmatī, Nepal
Restorative Justice, Reparations, Reconciliation, Modern Slavery
__________________________
Penelope Griffith
Washington DC, United States
Youth Mediation, Dispute resolution with children and young people.
__________________________
Ronja Karlsson
From RJ4All, London, UK
Human Rights, Restorative justice
__________________________
John McDonald
Australia
Restorative justice
Gabriel Velez
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Identity development, helps with young people’s responses to peace education and restorative justice
__________________________
Chris Straker
UK
Restorative practice with schools and young people’s services
__________________________
Alikki Vernon
Australia
Mediation, Dispute resolution and Restorative Practices
__________________________
Carmen Costa
from RJ4All, London, UK
Social Justice and Education
__________________________
Karen Miner Romanoff
New York
Criminology and Juvenile Justice
Giuseppe Maglione
Kent, UK
Criminal justice and criminology; incorporation of restorative justice into penal policy
__________________________
David Moore
Australia
Training, Coaching and Mentoring Restorative Facilitators.
__________________________
Marelize Schoeman
South Africa
Child justice, at-risk youth
__________________________
Morris Jenkins
Illinois, United States
Restorative Justice trainer, researcher and practitioner. Offender reentry efforts.
Approved RJ4All Restorative Justice Practitioners
Approved RJ4All Practitioners who join the IFJRP can display the RJ4All badge on their promotional material including websites, fliers and social media.
Disclaimer: The display of the Fellowship badge indicates that the individual or service has been approved by the IFRJP Panel following the Fellowship’s criteria and the RJ4All Restorative Justice Practice Framework.
This does not mean that RJ4All nor the Fellowship bear any responsibility for the practice of the approved individual or service. Neither the Fellowship nor RJ4All endorse any private or other business initiatives that promotes paid registrations, and which fall outside the scope or our ethical framework.
How we handle your data
At RJ4All, we handle personal data in accordance with the RJ4All Data Protection Policy and relevant data protection legislation, including the EU GDPR. All our staff receive CPD certified training on Data Protection put together with the DPO Centre. RJ4All’s data protection policies and infrastructure have recently been reviewed by the DPO centre and have been updated accordingly. By joining the fellowship, you also agree for your name and organisation (if applicable) as well as country to be published on the Fellowship membership page.