(2) For the purposes of the justice committee, “restorative that emphasize repairing the harm caused practices” means practices to victims and the community by offenses. Restorative justice practices include victim initiated victimoffender conferences, family group conferences, circles, community conferences, and other similar victimcentered practices. Restorative justice practices must be facilitated meetings attended voluntarily by the victim or the supporters, the offender, and victim’s representatives, victim’s the and may include community members. By offender’s supporters engaging the parties to the offense in voluntary dialogue, restorative justice practices provide an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the harm caused to the victim and community, promote victim healing, and enable the participants to agree on consequences to repair the harm, to the extent possible, including, but not limited to, apologies, community service, reparation, restoration, and counseling. Restorative justice practices may be used in addition to any other conditions, consequences, or sentences imposed by the court. Restorative justice practices include, but must be not limited to, victimoffender conferences, family group conferences, restorative circles of accountability and support, community group conferences, solution circles, peace circles, restorative circles, and restorative mediation. These practices may benefit and include harmed parties, people who have done harm and must be willing to take responsibility, affected families, communities, and other directly impacted members. (C) Regarding zerotolerance policies in public schools, the committee shall make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning a statewide zerotolerance policy to: (1) provide a safe and supportive learning environment in schools; (2) protect students and staff from conduct that poses a serious threat to school safety; (3) ensure zerotolerance policies not be rigorously applied to petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors, including, but not limited to, minor fights or disturbances; (4) ensure equal application to all students regardless of their economic status, race, or disability; (5) encourage schools to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies by addressing disruptive behavior through restitution, civil citation, teen court, neighborhood restorative justice, or similar programs;
(2) For the purposes of the committee, “restorative justice practices” means practices that emphasize repairing the harm caused to victims and the community by offenses. Restorative justice practices include victim initiated victimoffender conferences, family group conferences, circles, community conferences, and other similar victimcentered practices. Restorative justice practices must be facilitated meetings attended voluntarily by the victim or victim’s representatives, the victim’s supporters, the offender, and the offender’s supporters and may include community members. By engaging the parties to the offense in voluntary dialogue, restorative justice practices provide an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the harm caused to the victim and community, promote victim healing, and enable the participants to agree on consequences to repair the harm, to the extent possible, including, but not limited to, apologies, community service, reparation, restoration, and counseling. Restorative justice practices may be used in addition to any other conditions, consequences, or sentences imposed by the court. Restorative justice practices include, but must be not limited to, victimoffender conferences, family group conferences, restorative circles of accountability and support, community group conferences, solution circles, peace circles, restorative circles, and restorative mediation. These practices may benefit and include harmed parties, people who have done harm and must be willing to take responsibility, affected families, communities, and other directly impacted members. (C) Regarding zerotolerance policies in public schools, the committee shall make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning a statewide zerotolerance policy to: (1) provide a safe and supportive learning environment in schools; (2) protect students and staff from conduct that poses a serious threat to school safety; (3) ensure zerotolerance policies not be rigorously applied to petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors, including, but not limited to, minor fights or disturbances; (4) ensure equal application to all students regardless of their economic status, race, or disability; (5) encourage schools to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies by addressing disruptive behavior through restitution, civil citation, teen court, neighborhood restorative justice, or similar programs;
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