Three Rivers Restorative Justice

Restorative Practices & Truancy
Owatonna High School is making strides in improving attendance by focusing o: relationships, listening, and support.

📚 Mental health, family dynamics, and past challenges are often behind student absences. That’s why their team uses tools like weekly check-ins, family meetings, and support programs like UPLIFT.

This approach mirrors the power of restorative practices:
🌀 Listening before judging
🌀 Building trust instead of threats
🌀 Addressing harm through connection—not punishment

As schools seek real solutions to truancy, restorative justice offers a way to reconnect students, families, and educators in healing and accountability.

💡 At TRRJ, we believe every student deserves to be seen, supported, and given a chance to succeed.

TRRJ by the Numbers: March 2023 – December 2024

The results are in — and they speak volumes. Restorative justice is working in Southeast Minnesota. Here’s what we’ve achieved together:

🔸 250+ people served
🔸 96% of victims were satisfied with the outcome
🔸 81% of youth completed their reparation agreements
🔸 100% of victims would recommend restorative conferencing
🔸 95% of all participants felt heard and able to speak freely

When community leads, justice heals. 💬🌀

Thanks to everyone—youth, victims, families, facilitators, and partners—who make this work real.

If you haven't made it to a pretrial community report-back yet, here's another chance to explore the findings from our research and dig in to our recommendations to the legislature.

Join us virtually on June 26th at 6pm — RSVP at mnjrc.org/events.

If you want to be a part of transforming our state's pretrial system, we invite you to start here

Please join TRRJ at Victoria's helping to raise awareness and funding for TRRJ's mission

Richard Gillis — a TRRJ cofounder, facilitator, and former board member — shares how his journey through faith, prison ministry, and community support led him to become part of the restorative justice movement in Southeast Minnesota.

From circles of support to restorative classes, Richard’s story reminds us that justice can be healing, not just punitive. His efforts with TRRJ bring accountability, compassion, and restoration to those impacted by harm in our community.

🙏 We’re grateful for volunteers like Richard who make this work possible.
💡 Curious about what restorative justice really looks like?
🧡 Want to support healing in your community?

Join us or donate at www.trrj.org