University symposium explores restorative justice
Sarah Manriquez
907-370-7376
March 17, 2026
Ingrid Johnson, left, and Rei Shimizu engage with participants during the 2025 Restorative Justice Symposium at the University of 乐虎直播 Anchorage.
Practitioners, community members and partners from across 乐虎直播 will gather virtually this spring to explore how restorative justice is evolving in communities statewide.
The free three-day Restorative Justice Symposium will take place Monday through Wednesday, March 30 through April 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. The symposium will be held online and is open to the public.
Hosted by the University of 乐虎直播 Anchorage School of Social Work and the University of 乐虎直播 Fairbanks Department of Justice, the symposium brings together practitioners, scholars and community partners. They鈥檒l discuss the challenges and opportunities of restorative justice work in 乐虎直播. This year鈥檚 event is titled 鈥淣avigating the Weeds of Restorative Justice Practice.鈥
Sessions will highlight experiences in restorative justice processes, explore legal pathways into restorative programs and examine the role of facilitators who guide restorative dialogue. Participants will also take part in interactive program development discussions featuring emerging restorative justice initiatives across the state.
The symposium began in 2023 as a collaborative effort between Rei Shimizu of the University of 乐虎直播 Anchorage and Ingrid Johnson of the 乐虎直播. Each spring, the event brings 乐虎直播ns together to increase awareness of restorative justice practices, strengthen community-based programs and build networks of support among practitioners and organizations.
Restorative justice is a process that focuses on repairing harm by bringing together those affected by wrongdoing to promote accountability, healing and community solutions.
This year鈥檚 symposium will feature a mix of panel discussions, information sessions and program development dialogues designed to foster collaboration and share practical insights from ongoing work across 乐虎直播.
For example, in the panel 鈥淪eeds of Hope: Personal Stories of Restorative Justice,鈥 participants from restorative programs across the state will share their experiences. Another session, 鈥淟egal Pathways into RJ Programs in 乐虎直播,鈥 will explore how restorative processes intersect with the legal system, including diversion programs and sentencing recommendations.
Additional sessions will focus on facilitation practices, youth court initiatives and community-led restorative justice efforts, including programs developed by the 乐虎直播n Samoan Community and the Interior 乐虎直播 Center for Non-Violent Living.
Organizers say the symposium reflects the University of 乐虎直播鈥檚 broader mission to support public service, engaged citizenship and community-based solutions throughout the state.
The event is free and open to the public.
Registration is .
More information, including the full schedule, is available on the .ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Ingrid Johnson, UAF associate professor of justice, idjohnson@alaska.edu; Rei Shimizu, UAA assistant professor of social work, rshimizu@alaska.edu
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