SRO Restorative Justice in Schools 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An SRO notices that Black and Latino students are suspended at significantly higher rates than white students for similar offenses. Restorative justice is seen as one solution because it:
- Automatically eliminates all disciplinary actions for minority students
- Reduces reliance on exclusionary punishments that disproportionately affect students of color (Correct answer)
- Transfers disciplinary authority from schools to law enforcement
- Requires minority students to participate in more circles than others
Correct answer: Reduces reliance on exclusionary punishments that disproportionately affect students of color
Research shows restorative practices reduce racial discipline gaps by replacing suspensions with in-school processes that address root causes.
Question 2: Which school staff member is most often designated as the primary facilitator of formal restorative conferences?
- The school principal who holds final disciplinary authority
- A trained restorative justice coordinator or school counselor (Correct answer)
- The SRO who investigated the initial incident
- The classroom teacher involved in the conflict
Correct answer: A trained restorative justice coordinator or school counselor
Formal restorative conferences are typically led by specially trained coordinators or counselors who maintain neutrality and process fidelity.
Question 3: A student who harmed a peer during a cyberbullying incident refuses to acknowledge wrongdoing. In a restorative framework, the SRO should:
- Force a public apology in front of the class
- Explore whether the student is ready for a restorative process and address barriers to accountability (Correct answer)
- Close the case immediately since restorative justice cannot proceed
- Increase the punishment until the student acknowledges wrongdoing
Correct answer: Explore whether the student is ready for a restorative process and address barriers to accountability
Readiness for restorative processes varies; the SRO should assess barriers and create conditions for genuine accountability rather than coerce it.
Question 4: In restorative justice, what does 'making things right' (amends) most commonly involve?
- Paying a fine determined by school administration
- Completing a community service project unrelated to the harm
- Taking direct action to repair the specific harm caused to specific people (Correct answer)
- Serving detention equal in hours to the severity of the offense
Correct answer: Taking direct action to repair the specific harm caused to specific people
Meaningful amends in restorative justice are directly connected to the specific harm caused and the needs of those harmed.
Question 5: Which of the following would undermine the integrity of a restorative circle facilitated by an SRO?
- Allowing each participant to speak without interruption
- Sharing information disclosed in the circle with prosecutors without participant consent (Correct answer)
- Summarizing agreements reached at the end of the session
- Following up with participants after the circle to check on progress
Correct answer: Sharing information disclosed in the circle with prosecutors without participant consent
Using disclosures from a restorative circle in subsequent criminal proceedings violates confidentiality and trust, which are essential to the process.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'reentry circle' in school restorative practice?
- To formally expel a student from the restorative program
- To welcome a student back to school after a suspension and plan for their successful reintegration (Correct answer)
- To gather evidence for a disciplinary hearing
- To assign a student to an alternative school placement
Correct answer: To welcome a student back to school after a suspension and plan for their successful reintegration
Reentry circles ease the transition back from suspension by rebuilding relationships and identifying supports needed for the student's success.
Question 7: Which statement best captures the SRO's unique contribution to restorative justice in schools?
- SROs primarily enforce zero-tolerance and have no place in restorative processes
- SROs can bridge law enforcement and restorative approaches, using legal knowledge to contextualize safety while supporting non-punitive resolution (Correct answer)
- SROs must always prioritize arrest over any restorative option
- SROs replace school counselors as the primary restorative practitioners
Correct answer: SROs can bridge law enforcement and restorative approaches, using legal knowledge to contextualize safety while supporting non-punitive resolution
SROs trained in restorative practices can help balance school safety with relationship-centered responses, serving as a bridge between law enforcement and restorative frameworks.
SRO Restorative Justice in Schools 5
An SRO notices that Black and Latino students are suspended at significantly higher rates than white students for similar offenses.
Restorative justice is seen as one solution because it: