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From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice

Author

Listed:
  • Anjali Adukia
  • Benjamin Feigenberg
  • Fatemeh Momeni

Abstract

School districts historically approached conflict-resolution from a zero-sum perspective: suspend students seen as disruptive and potentially harm them, or avoid suspensions and harm their classmates. Restorative practices (RP) -- focused on reparation and shared ownership of disciplinary justice -- are designed to avoid this trade-off by addressing undesirable behavior without imparting harm. This study examines Chicago Public Schools' adoption of RP. We identify decreased suspensions, improved school climate, and find no evidence of increased classroom disruption. We estimate a 19% decrease in arrests, including for violent offenses, with reduced arrests outside of school, providing evidence that RP substantively changed behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Anjali Adukia & Benjamin Feigenberg & Fatemeh Momeni, 2023. "From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice," NBER Working Papers 31675, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31675
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • K39 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Other

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