Daniel Reisel: The neuroscience of restorative justice

Daniel Reisel studies the brains of criminal psychopaths (and mice). And he asks a big question: Instead of warehousing these criminals, shouldn’t we be using what we know about the brain to help them rehabilitate? Put another way: If the brain can grow new neural pathways after an injury … could we help the brain re-grow morality?

This is what it's all about! Restorative flames burning bright!

10 ways to live Restoratively.

November 27th, 2009 Howard Zehr & Restorative Justice.

1.    Take relationships seriously, envisioning yourself in an interconnected web of people, institutions and the environment.

2.    Try to be aware of the impact – potential as well as actual – of your actions on others and the environment.

3.    When your actions negatively impact others, take responsibility by acknowledging and seeking to repair the harm – even when you could probably get away with avoiding or denying it. 

4.    Treat everyone respectfully, even those you don’t expect to encounter again, even those you feel don’t deserve it, even those who have harmed or offended you or others.

5.    Involve those affected by a decision, as much as possible, in the decision-making process.

6.    View the conflicts and harms in your life as opportunities.

7.    Listen, deeply and compassionately, to others, seeking to understand even if you don’t agree with them. (Think about who you want to be in the latter situation rather than just being right.)

8.    Engage in dialogue with others, even when what is being said is difficult, remaining open to learning from them and the encounter.

9.    Be cautious about imposing your “truths” and views on other people and situations.

10.  Sensitively confront everyday injustices including sexism, racism and classism.

 

 

The Biggest Myth About Vulnerability

Our capacity for full heartedness can never be greater than our willingness to be broken hearted. We ca only love and be loved as much as we are willing to have our heart broken.

What is Empathy?

One of the things that I experience when empathy is present is that the blocks to action which does not exclude are removed. So one of the ways that I can identify that empathy is present is, that whatever is impeding action is gone and that the quality of that action is that it tends to include, it connects, it brings pieces together, it resolves what appears to be knotted and bound” ~ Dominic Barter

"When painful or violent conflict occurs we actually create more security for our communities when we move towards each other rather than away..."

Working with Dominic Barter has deeply impacted my personal growth and my understanding of conflict as community. To hold a restorative presence for others means holding that presence for oneself,that means that the work is as much personal as it is social. The next videos I will post will feature Dominic talking about Empathy.