Restorative Justice Certificate

The Regis College Restorative Justice Certificate program is designed to reshape how we address conflicts and repair harm through inclusive, community-based approaches. This program will provide a comprehensive understanding of restorative justice, its goals, and practical applications. By integrating restorative practices into educational and law enforcement settings, you will learn how to foster accountability, agency, and inclusivity while promoting a positive and engaged atmosphere in your communities.

Why Restorative Justice Matters

As criminal justice reform gains momentum, there is a growing recognition of the negative effects of mass incarceration, racially biased sentencing, and punitive disciplinary policies. Recent Massachusetts legislation mandates student-centered disciplinary approaches that emphasize conflict resolution and restorative justice before issuing suspensions or expulsions.

Who Should Enroll?

This certificate program is ideal for law enforcement professionals, educators, and school administrators looking to integrate restorative justice into their work.

Law Enforcement Professionals

Community police officers, School Resource Officers (SROs), and other law enforcement personnel who regularly interact with juveniles will benefit from specialized training in restorative justice. This certificate will provide:

• Awareness of restorative practices and their applications
• Tools to assess the harm, impact, and needs of all stakeholders
• Skills to lead restorative programming in schools and communities
• A pathway for law enforcement officers without a four-year degree to further their education

Educators

Given Massachusetts' new education laws, school staff must be equipped to implement restorative justice in disciplinary proceedings. Teachers, administrators, and counselors will gain:

• Training in restorative justice principles to create positive classroom environments
• Tools to handle lower-level conflicts among students effectively
• Compliance with state-mandated conflict resolution practices
• Increased employment opportunities in schools adopting restorative practices

With a summer start, you can complete part of the program while you have a more flexible schedule.

Restorative Justice Certificate Highlights

This program stands out as one of the most flexible and affordable certificate programs in Massachusetts. Some key features include:

• Flexible Learning: eight-week asynchronous courses designed for working professionals
• Nine-Credit Program: Courses applicable to professional development and degree programs
• Dual Undergraduate and Graduate Options:
  • Undergraduate credit pathway: Ideal for law enforcement professionals pursuing a bachelor's degree
  • Graduate credit pathway: Can be applied toward a master’s degree, particularly for educators
• Affordable Tuition:
  • $6,840 total ($760 per credit), significantly lower than comparable programs
  • Regis Strategic Partners qualify for a 20% discount ($5,472 total, $608 per credit)

Curriculum

The following outlines the courses included in the certificate program. For your second course, you can choose between a Law Enforcement or Education focus.

Admission Requirements

Graduate Applicants:

• Undergraduate transcript
• Resume

Undergraduate Applicants:

• High school or undergraduate transcript (to date)
• Resume