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Restorative justice offers a transformative approach to addressing harm, emphasizing dialogue and understanding between victims and perpetrators as a path to healing and closure. This panel will explore the dynamics of restorative justice practices, many of which are rooted in indigenous traditions, where individuals directly affected by crime engage in facilitated conversations aimed at acknowledging harm, fostering empathy, and rebuilding trust. 

In the context of the broader reform movement, restorative justice challenges the traditional punitive approach of the criminal justice system by focusing on reconciliation and community-based solutions. Panelists will discuss how these practices can serve as a powerful alternative to incarceration, highlighting the role of restorative justice in the quest for a more humane and just society. 

The discussion will delve into real-world applications of restorative justice, examining its impact on both victims and perpetrators, and its potential to contribute to decarceration. By connecting personal narratives with systemic change, this panel will offer insights into how restorative justice can lead to meaningful resolution and the reimagining of justice itself. 

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Meet the Panelists:

 Suzanne V. Estrella (she/her), Commonwealth Victim Advocate, is a victims' rights attorney with over 30 years of legal experience including 15 years of legal advocacy serving survivors of crime in Pennsylvania. Her years at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) as their Legal Director have brought an understanding of the trauma endured by crime victims and an insight into the ways in which systems created to protect victims can often re-traumatize them. Suzanne’s passion for justice and commitment to centering the marginalized has led the Office of Victim Advocate to expand its victims’ services, as well as its crime prevention and restorative justice efforts. The Office of Victim Advocate employees a full- time social worker offering support groups and creative opportunities to promote hope and resiliency. 

 Felix Rosado (he/him) is Program Manager of Healing Futures, a youth restorative justice (RJ) diversion program with the Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project, and teaches RJ at Chestnut Hill College. In 2022, Felix narrowly escaped death by incarceration (also known as life without parole) via governor clemency after 27 years. While inside, he cofounded Let’s Circle Up, an RJ education project, and wrote Justice from the Inside Up: A Restorative Justice Education Facilitator’s Manual, which was published this summer by Living Justice Press. Also while inside, Felix cofounded the Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration, earned a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in interdisciplinary studies, and served in leadership with the Alternatives to Violence Project and the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program. Now happily engaged and residing in southwest Philadelphia, he is the proud father of Jubilee, born a week shy of his two-year freedom anniversary.

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Justice 101 is a discussion series examining the history of the justice system in America, from its founding to today, and the impact it has on society, citizens, and the world. Justice 101 programs are free and take place monthly. You can join us live at the times listed, or watch the discussions back anytime on YouTube. Justice 101 is designed for learners of all ages.