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Hacks for Community Involvement in RJ & TJ Processes

Restorative and transformative justice processes are holistic in their approach to conflict and escalated or harmful situations. This means they aim to address all affected parties—those directly involved, and all others who are more laterally impacted. For harm reduction service providers this can sometimes be the entire community of participants.

  • Designate calm point people—these may also be your Community Ambassadors.
  • Make space for community members to share the impact of the event or situation.
  • Create—and invite community members to join—a hearing or accountability board.
  • Have community debriefs, particularly when an escalated event directly impacts others because they witnessed or experienced the event.

Featured Hacks

These featured hacks highlight creative, practical solutions from harm reduction leaders on the ground. From DIY tools to clever workarounds, each one reflects the ingenuity, care, and real-world experience that keeps this movement alive. 

Because so many of us are so similar to the folks we serve, including the trauma we carry with us, and because it is now recognized that extreme stress impacts people who care for people experiencing that trauma nearly as much as the people directly impacted by that trauma, it is essential that people in […]
As discussed in the part of the site on preventing escalation, it is essential for harm reduction workers to stay present and remain centered and relatively calm during escalated events. This is one of the hardest things to do, but staying present and centered during any kind of escalated situation at your harm reduction site is essential to de-escalation.