Living the Work: Colorado’s Restorative Justice Guidelines in Action

Whatever your connection to restorative justice—whether you’re an experienced facilitator, a new practitioner, or just RJ-curious—Colorado’s updated Restorative Justice Practitioner Guidelines are here to ground, challenge, and support your practice. Developed by and for

practitioners across the state, these Guidelines are meant to be a living, evolving resource—centering core restorative values while honoring the diversity of contexts in which RJ is practiced.

To bring these Guidelines to life, we’ve launched a new video series rooted in conversation. The purpose of this project is to unpack the Guidelines through honest dialogue and meaningful engagement with practitioners in the field. Rather than scripted or polished, these are grounded, real, and deeply human stories about what it truly takes to live restorative values day to day.

In this first phase of the series, conversations focus on the first four Guidelines—creating spaces for restorative justice practice, honoring self-determination, navigating confidentiality, and addressing mutual partiality and bias. You’ll hear practitioners’ personal reflections on challenges and lessons learned: building safety and trust, adapting to individual needs, slowing down when urgency pushes forward, and holding space for multiple truths.

These are not just technical frameworks—they’re deeply relational, shaped by experience, intention, and care. Practitioners speak openly about their own growth and how these principles show up (and sometimes stretch) in real-world practice.

The Guidelines replace Colorado’s 2012 Standards of Practice and aim to support strong, values-driven RJ throughout the state. They serve as a compass—for training, for building public trust, and for designing restorative processes that are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.

This video series isn’t just a teaching tool—it’s an invitation. Listen in. Reflect deeply. Let the voices and experiences of fellow practitioners spark your own growth and connection.

Explore the Guidelines. Watch the series. Let them guide not just what you do—but how you do it. www.youtube.com/@CCRJP