The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Campus Sexual Harms: A Holistic Approach to Address Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence for College

A restorative justice approach to addressing sexual misconduct in colleges and universities.

Written for college and university practitioners and administrators, The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Campus Sexual Harms: A Holistic Approach to Address Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence for Colleges and Universities combines explanation, justification, and contextualization for the application of restorative justice (RJ) for sexual misconduct, including for alleged Title IX violations. This book outlines considerations, action steps, and best practices for campuses that are interested in exploring the successful implementation of RJ for sexual misconduct. The authors’ backgrounds as practitioners within the higher education context grounds this work with personal reflections, experiences, and stories.

This book provides a primer for colleges and universities who seek to move campus culture in a more restorative direction generally, and specifically for practitioners interested in exploring the possibility of amending existing sexual misconduct policies, including investigative-adjudicatory Title IX policy and procedures, through a restorative justice informed lens. Readers will explore why it makes all the difference (for both students and administrators) to add RJ resolution options.

Mikayla (Waters-Crittenton) McCray contracts with local school systems, court systems, and organizations to train their staff in restorative justice facilitation. She is currently helping to launch a new Restorative Justice Diversion program for the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle county (VA) for both young people (through 22 years old) and adults. She previously served as the Assistant Director of Student Accountability and Restorative Justice and as a Residence Director for Eastern Mennonite University. Prior to joining the EMU team, Mikayla worked to advance the awareness and research around restorative practices in the context of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence at Impact Justice (CA). Mikayla trains national organizations across the US in restorative justice and is certified in The Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience program as well as a rape crisis counselor. She earned an M.A. in Restorative Justice from EMU and undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology. She lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Dr. Rachel Roth Sawatzky trains national organizations across the US in restorative justice and policy development. She has worked within higher education as a university Title IX Coordinator, Interim Associate Dean of Students, and Director of Student Programs. In addition to serving on many policy advisory groups she has collaborated to lead a team on an Office of Violence Against Women Grant to prevent and eliminate sexual violence and misconduct. Her work has involved providing many training sessions on a variety of topics for students, university personnel, community first responders, and service providers. Rachel’s research interests include institutional policies and protocols in response to misconduct. Bringing a range of additional professional experiences to this project, Rachel has also worked as a social worker in a residential facility for sex offenders, within the foster care and adoption systems, and has experience working with children, families, and students impacted by sexual violence. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.