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Recognizing November 2026 as National Restorative Justice Month and honoring the power of art, healing, and community through the collaborative efforts of The Barnes Foundation, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and Creative Philadelphia
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WHEREAS, National Restorative Justice Month is observed every November to increase awareness of restorative justice practices and programs. Restorative justice aims to increase offender responsibility while recognizing the needs of the community, repairing harm through a focus on relationships and voluntary participation; and
WHEREAS, Restorative justice is a set of practices and a broader philosophy that bridges the gaps in traditional punitive systems, providing a way for those in the prison system to take accountability and reintegrate into their greater community. Incarceration negatively impacts an individual's wellbeing in addition to their economic, family, and community stability; and
WHEREAS, Restorative justice is associated with a decrease in recidivism and an increase in overall quality of life. Restorative justice practices can improve outcomes for both victims and offenders, including satisfaction, procedural justice and fairness, and offender accountability. A study by the Justice Research and Statistics Association showed a 32 percent decrease in recidivism; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to the efforts of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, and other advocates for restorative justice, Philadelphia has seen significant progress. According to the Philadelphia Prison Population Report as of August 2026, the city's total prison population decreased by 56.1 percent from 2015. It decreased by an additional 32.8 percent between July 2024, when the population was 4,811, and August 2026, when it was 3,232; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has increased early diversion, implemented strategies for efficient case processing, reduced reliance on bail, standardized data collection and rep...
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