Sassari 2022

This theme focuses on space and time, either literally or figuratively conceived. We invite presentations that address and respond to these themes from various angles. Some examples could be:

• Restorative justice and closed institutions: How can restorative justice be conceived and done in prisons, centers for undocumented migrants, psychiatric hospitals, drug rehabilitation units, etc.? How can restorative spaces be created in oppressive spaces? How can restorative justice in such institutions contribute to make the bridge with the outside world?
• Restorative approaches in urban contexts: How can we create and sustain restorative cities? How to stage restorative justice in urban settings? How can buildings and borders reflect restorative values in order to shape  and support people’s relationships and connections?
• Restorative justice and space: How can we think about restorative design? What is the role of design and architecture to create spaces of (restorative) justice?
• Restorative approaches in educational settings: How does a school become a restorative space? How does a school become a place  for building restorative relationships?
• Restorative justice and relational borders: How can restorative processes acknowledge class, gender, generational, religious, national, and racial differences, while at the same time undoing and transforming relations of oppression?
• Boundaries in restorative processes: What boundaries are appropriate between stakeholders, and between practitioners and stakeholders? How to turn restorative justice into an ordinary day to day practice?
• Restorative justice and time: How can we conceive of the notion of restoring the future by generating new meanings or memories of the past? How can we engage in intergenerational or historical forms of conflict? When is the ‘right time’ of repair?
• Restorative justice and criminal justice: How can we create distance and proximity with the criminal justice system? How can different uses of “time” be adjusted in both systems? How can we align spaces? How to use restorative justice in cases of cross border crimes?
• Restorative justice in the cyber-world: How can restorative justice practices adapt to online settings? What lessons have been learnt during the Covid-19 lockdowns? How can restorative justice serve the needs of those involved in cyber-crimes?

This theme focuses on language and narratives. We invite presentations that address and respond to these themes from various angles. Some examples could be:

• Restorative justice across languages: How does the word “restorative” translate in different languages and does it retain the same meaning in all cultures? What is the meaning of this word and its roots? Why do English speaking countries refer to restorative justice while so many other countries stick with penal mediation?
• Restorative justice beyond language: Do all participants understand words in the same way? How can people with different verbal and cognitive abilities be supported to participate actively in a process dominated by verbal communication?
• Restorative justice across borders: How do key restorative justice values and principles travel across cultural and relational borders? What is the role of restorative justice to undo borders?
• Restorative language and narratives: What are words that polarise (e.g. victim-offender labels), and which words restorative justice should cultivate?
• Restorative justice practices: Is the “script” really restorative? How can restorative justice be integrated and complement other practices (e.g. therapy)?  What practices have been useful to support citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic?
• Beyond restorative justice practices: What innovative non-verbal communication practices are emerging to engage people in dialogue (rituals, song writing, storytelling, drawing, movement, painting, gift making, diaries, letters)? How to connect with practices sharing the same restorative justice goals and values but not necessarily following the “restorative justice rules”?
• Restorative justice testimonies: What can we learn from experiences of practitioners and restorative justice ambassadors? What successful and unsuccessful stories can be shared from the field to further ameliorate restorative justice practices?