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Roadblocks to Using Restorative & Transformative Responses

Some of the biggest roadblocks to using restorative and transformative justice responses in your organization are likely to be the cultural barriers you will encounter in trying to use holistic transformative processes, instead of typically punitive and shaming ones.

This is not familiar work to us. We are not used to it. It is much easier for us to see things in black-and-white, to accuse people, and to discard them as worthless once they contradict our expectations. However, the benefits of restorative and transformative responses can’t be overstated. Particularly for those of us in harm reduction, who believe faithfully in the possibility of change.

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. 

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.
Over and over, harm reduction leaders interviewed for Space Hacks centered the creation of community as central to their efforts to create safe, humane harm reduction spaces services that are trauma-informed and minimize the potential for escalated situations.