The 13th annual Bellarmine Forum addressed the topic of “Restoring Justice.” “Restoring Justice” invited multidisciplinary reflection on the theories and practices of justice in our contemporary society, with a focus on the promise of restorative justice as a mechanism for addressing harm, teaching conflict prevention in schools and other institutions, rebuilding relationships and communities, and reintegrating offenders into society. The forum explored legal, theological, ethical, political, sociological, educational, and ecological aspects of restoring justice in the contexts of Los Angeles, the United States, and the world. The overarching aim of the forum was to galvanize campus-wide discussions and actions; the basic structure consists of: talking/listening/debating focused on understanding and doing/implementing focused on engaged learning.
“Restoring Justice” addressed:
- The meanings and practices of justice
- The meanings and practices of punishment
- The meanings of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation
- Criminal justice in Los Angeles, California, the United States, and the world
- Forms and practices of restorative justice
- Conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution (within families, schools, and communities)
- Ethnic, racial, and gendered dimensions of criminal justice
- Juvenile justice and adolescent development
- Peacemaking and Tribal Justice/indigenous approaches to restorative justice
- Ignatian spirituality, Catholic theology, and restorative justice
- Interreligious views on forgiveness and reconciliation
- Healing in the wake of interpersonal, institutional, and national violence
- Restoring healthy communities (ecology, biology, and the common good)
- Communal responses to harms experienced by victims
- Offender reintegration and re-entry
- Personal experiences of restorative justice
- Opportunities for participation in restorative justice practices
