Restorative Justice at PBMR
Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) is an organization deeply committed to living out the principles and practices of Restorative Justice (RJ).
Restorative Justice is an essential part of the PBMR ministry. Just as Precious Blood Spirituality is the foundation, inspiration and motivation for our work, restorative justice is the philosophy and framework through which that work is carried out.
The philosophy of RJ (culture and environment) are the worldview, and the RJ Practices are how we carry it out.
PBMR is one of the founding members of the RJHubs of Chicago, a collaborative of organizations across the city that are dedicated to bringing the practices of restorative justice into the real-life situations we face every day.
What is
Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is a philosophy and set of practices, grounded in Indigenous teachings focused on being in good relationship first, and healing when relationships are hurt. When someone causes harm, Restorative Justice gives us a way of addressing it without causing more harm: Caring for the victim, by allowing the people with the most at stake to address the conflict.
Restorative Justice
is Transformative.
RJ reimagines our criminal legal system through a restorative lens. It calls us to rethink legislation to rebuild lives, provide radical hospitality to those in our community, and actively work to replace punitive and carceral punishment with healing responses to harm.

1. The true self in everyone is good, wise and powerful.
2. The world is profoundly interconnected.
3. All human beings have a deep desire to be in a good relationship.
4. All human beings have gifts, and everyone is needed for what they bring.
5. Everything we need to make positive change is already here.
6. Human beings are holistic.
7. We need practices to build habits of living from the core self.
PBMR applies the restorative justice philosophy to real life situations every day.
We borrow from Kay Pranis
and Carolyn Boyes-Watson's
7 Core Assumptions,
derived from Indigenous teachings, to direct our work.
“While often mistakenly considered only reactive to harm, restorative justice is also a proactive strategy to create a culture of connectivity where all members of a community thrive and feel valued.
Powerful communal bonds, woefully lacking in contemporary culture, are the community’s greatest security and protection from crime.”
- Dr. Fania Davis,
author of
The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice: Black Lives, Healing and US Social Transformation
The Pillars of Operation for RJHubs
Radical Hospitality
in providing a welcoming and hospitable place.
Building Relationships
with youth, adults, and families.
Learning & Community
in collaboration with other restorative justice efforts and groups.
Restorative Justice Programs at PBMR
Restorative Justice Practice/Facilitation
PBMR employs several trained and experienced restorative justice practitioners who are skilled in facilitating interactions at any level: interpersonal, family, community, team, small group, etc.
Peace Circles in Prisons
Our Restorative Justice Trainers go to correctional facilities and detention centers across Illinois to teach new practitioners how to host Peace Circles and utilize RJ practices, expanding the impact of restorative justice to communities on the inside of prison.
Reentry Support
We stay connected with those in our community that are inside of prisons and do everything possible to mitigate harm to them and their loved ones. Once they're out, we offer housing services, deep connections to community engagement, and reacclimation to society.
Wraparound Services
PBMR's programming develops to meet the wants and needs of our community. Our tangible aid includes housing, household items, transportation, education, and workforce attainment. Our intangible aid includes mental health services, legal & government system navigation, unconditional community support, and community healing practices. We cater and grow all of our services to individual situations.
Case Management
Individuals are paired with case managers and connected to specific support groups for families, young adults, women, and men to assist participants in reaching their vital needs and attaining their life goals while offering mentorship, accountability and a network of others in similar situations.
Youth Engagement
PBMR keeps youth at its core with every program prioritizing the care of young adults, regardless of their situation or identity. Much of our daily operations are catered to the youth of our community - from events, to education, to workforce development, to case management, and beyond.
Restorative Justice Training and Education
At PBMR, restorative justice begins in relationship — with ourselves, our communities, and the sacred dignity in each person.
Our trainings are not products; they are shared practices.
We gather in circle, in story, in listening — to walk together toward healing, accountability, and wholeness.
While our offerings are flexible depending on the needs of the organization or individual, below are our general offerings:
Full-Day Introduction to Restorative Justice Experience
This workshop focuses on community building with staff, students, community partners, and members of an organization.
It includes ice breakers, storytelling, and art projects in a circle format. Participants become familiar with the foundations of Restorative Justice and the Peace Circle process.
3-Hour Introduction to Restorative Justice Workshop
This workshop focuses on familiarizing participants with the foundations of Restorative Justice.
Through ice breakers and storytelling in a circle format, participants deepen relationships and learn key concepts.
4-Day Circle Keeper Training
This experiential training prepares participants to facilitate peacemaking circles in the community, schools, and juvenile justice settings.
Participants learn the fundamental elements of circles including ritual, storytelling, creating safe space, establishing shared values, building relationships and trust, and consensus decision-making. This training equips participants to facilitate check-in, family, community building, and celebration circles. We believe the depth of experience necessary to keep circles involving serious conflict and deep emotional issues will require additional training and practice. Training runs 9:00 AM to 3:30–4:00 PM each day. Attendance is expected all four days.
Let’s Walk Together.
We collaborate with schools, ministries, reentry teams, and community organizations to co-create healing spaces.
Our work is not one-size-fits-all — we begin with relationship, listening deeply to what’s needed.
To begin a conversation about training, contact PBMR's Restorative Justice Coordinator, Pamela Purdie, at
purdie@pbmr.org.
