<P> In schools, circles are not the only way that restorative justice can be utilized . Restorative justice is being used by schools in a wide variety of ways . Some schools use mediation and conferencing between students or teachers and students . These conferences are facilitated by a trained mediator to peacefully resolve the conflict and prevent conflict in the future . Other schools have utilized a peer jury in which trained student volunteers offer guidance and support to the referred student with advice on how to repair the harm they have done . Restorative justice can also be applied in more creative ways such as student - led conferences, which serves as an alternative to the traditional system of teacher - led conferences and provides students with a larger voice . Ultimately, restorative practices can be implemented in a variety of ways that still support the underlying philosophy of inclusivity, respect, repairing relationships, and responsibility . </P> <P> RJ has been tentative when applied to drug offences, sexual assault and domestic violence . South Australia and New Zealand have attempted RJ with juvenile sexual offenders . Indigenous regions of Canada have tentatively implemented circle sentencing to deal with domestic violence . Advocates believe that it may be applicable to these indigenous communities because it relates to traditional cultural values of restoring balance in the community . In addition, First Nations have low regard for the local (punitive) court system, in which their people are over-represented in court and in prison . There have also been promising practices developed in some community - based programs in Canada . One of these programs was highlighted in the critically acclaimed documentary A Better Man . Maclean's reported, "The film manages to be simultaneously agonizing and hopeful...it is revelatory to know these kinds of (restorative) conversations are possible ." Film reviewer Miria Bale of Vulture.com heralds the RJ / IPV film as a "Revolutionary documentary ." </P> <P> Prison abolition not only calls for the eradication of cages, but also new perspectives and methodologies for conceptualizing crime, an aim that is shared by restorative justice . In an abolitionist style of restorative justice, participation is voluntary and not limited by the requirements of organizations or professionals, the process includes all relevant stakeholders and is mediated by an independent third party . The emphasis is on meeting the needs of and strengthening the community . </P> <P> Positive criminology and positive victimology are conceptual approaches, developed by the Israeli criminologist Natti Ronel and his research team, that are well connected to restorative justice theories and practice . Positive criminology and victimology both place an emphasis on social inclusion and on unifying and integrating forces at individual, group, social and spiritual levels that are associated with the limiting of crime and recovery from victimization . In traditional approaches the study of crime, violence and related behaviors emphasizes the negative aspects in people's lives that are associated with deviance, criminality and victimization . A common understanding is that human relationships are affected more by destructive encounters than by constructive or positive ones . Positive criminology and victimology argue that a different approach is viable, based on three dimensions--social integration, emotional healing and spirituality--that constitute positive direction indicators . </P>

Where did the term restorative justice come from