Recovering the Vision:
Conversations on Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a simple, intuitive concept. However, when implemented in practice, challenges and complexities arise. This online course is intended for those who have some background in restorative justice, and through reading, discussion, and real-time conversations with leading practitioners and thinkers, participants will explore the principles and values of restorative justice along with challenges, dangers and pitfalls of it when put into practice.

  • Class meetings: Wednesday from 4:00-6:00 pm EST beginning Feb. 1, 2012 and ending April 25, 2012. Completion of assignments between class meetings is required.
  • Primary text: Critical Issues in Restorative Justice
  • View the course syllabus
  • Cost: $1120 for 2 academic credits; (new) $560 for 1 academic credit (see more info below)

About the teachers

Howard ZehrHoward Zehr, professor of restorative justice at Eastern Mennonite University, began as a practitioner and theorist in restorative justice in the late 1970s at the foundational stage of the field. Zehr was an early advocate of making the needs of victims central to the practice of restorative justice. A core theme in his work is respect for the dignity of all peoples. He has led hundreds of events in some 25 countries and 35 states, including trainings and consultations on restorative justice, victim-offender conferencing, judicial reform and other criminal justice matters. His impact has been especially significant in the United States, Brazil, Japan, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Britain, the Ukraine and New Zealand, a country that has restructured its juvenile justice system into a family-focused, restorative approach. In May 2008, he was appointed to the Victims Advisory Group of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. He serves on various other advisory boards.

Brenda WaughBrenda Waugh is an attorney and mediator with over twenty five years of experience. She graduated from West Virginia University Law School in 1987 and in 2009 earned a Masters Degree in Conflict Resolution from Eastern Mennonite University. She is licensed to practice law in West Virginia and the District of Columbia and is a certified mediator in Virginia and in West Virginia. Currently in private practice, she previously practiced law as an assistant prosecuting attorney and as a legal services lawyer. Brenda served counsel to the West Virginia Legislature and as the clerk to the committee to develop Family Court Rules with the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. She served as the first chairperson for the West Virginia State Bar Commission on Children and the Law and was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve on the several committees. She has published articles in the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism and the Washington University School of Law Journal of Law and Public Policy. Her teaching experiences include West Virginia University School of Law and Eastern Mennonite University.

Technology requirements

Although there will be some off-line assignments, the majority of this course will be conducted in a synchronous online environment. Participants must have high-speed internet and a laptop or desktop of recent make and model, as well as a microphone and headphones (to minimize background and echo noise); a webcam is encouraged.

Cost and payment

Tuition for this two-credit graduate course is $1120 (a one-credit option is available for $560). Eastern Mennonite University accepts cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks and money orders. Payments by credit card can be done at www.afford.com/emu; there is a convenience fee for this service. You may also make direct payments from your checking account for no charge through this service.

By popular demand, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding has decided to offer this online course (Previously, the course could only be taken for two graduate credits.) Note that course requirements are the same as for one and two hours of credit, except that the final project is not required for those taking the class for one credit.

To apply for the course, please contact by e-mail or calling 540-432-4986.