In March 2024, Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology became the first academic department in a European university to adopt a restorative practices policy.
Entitled A Restorative Approach to Supporting Students, the policy outlines what a restorative approach means in the School and the training that staff may obtain to help implement this, as well as providing for a new academic service role of Restorative Practices Officer in the School.
According to the policy,
which can be read in full here
, taking a restorative approach to supporting our students means that:
1) We actively build positive relationships and a sense of community among students and staff that makes people feel welcome and helps prevent interpersonal issues from occurring.
2) When a student approaches us to discuss an issue they are facing, we aim to listen and help them identify how best their needs can be met. This may involve signposting them to other persons and services to whom they might wish to speak.
3) When that issue involves another student or a staff member, an option we can explore is whether a colleague with advanced training in restorative practices could help those involved to participate in a voluntary restorative process to address what happened. This could include a face-to-face or indirect dialogue among those involved. In the first instance, the Restorative Practices Officer (from 2024, Dr. Ian Marder) can be contacted by anyone who wishes to ask questions about restorative processes. A restorative process can only take place following assessment and preparation, and with the free and informed consent of all parties.
All lecturers and administrators within the School are offered training, on a voluntary basis, to support them to implement Points 1 and 2 above, and to understand Point 3 sufficiently to know when they might contact, or propose that someone else might wish to contact, the Restorative Practices Officer to enquire about the possibility of a restorative process.
The policy further outlines how it aligns with existing School and Maynooth University policies and procedures, the range of other supports available to staff and students, and the fact that the Restorative Practices Officer might need to liaise with various other persons in respect of certain types of situations.
To read the policy in full,
please click here
. To contact the Restorative Practices Officer, Dr. Ian Marder, please click here.