Colorado Springs to expand school-based restorative justice programs

Three Colorado Springs schools will get new restorative justice programs after a mid-year budget appropriation of $52,000, reports the Gazette.

The programs bring student offenders and victims together to talk about infractions and agree on appropriate punishments with the help of trained facilitators.

It's worked pretty well for a couple nearby schools, according to the local organization that trains the schools. Manitou Springs Middle School has seen a 95 percent reduction in re-offending rates and North Middle School had an 87 percent improvement in students being tardy to school after introducing restorative justice.