2026 Restorative Justice Conference · UF Law

Thank you for joining us.

Thank you to everyone who brought their experience, questions, and care to the conversation on October 29–30, 2026. Explore the conference resources and continue the work of accountability, healing, and repair.

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Brick facade of the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center at the University of Florida, seen through spring blossoms.
October 29–30 2026 · UF Law · Gainesville
Conference dates
October 29–30, 2026
Where
MLAC 106, UF Law
Status
Conference concluded
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Continuing the conversation

Justice is not one conversation.

Restorative justice begins from a different set of questions than the ones our legal system usually asks.

  1. 01Who was harmed?
  2. 02What do they need?
  3. 03What accountability is meaningful?
  4. 04What would repair require?

The conference explored restorative justice across legal systems, community practice, and lived experience, with attention to the conditions needed for meaningful accountability, healing, and repair. These questions remain at the heart of the work beyond our two days together.

Conference resources

Keep learning. Keep the conversation going.

Session follow-up

Find the readings shared after Thalia González and Amy Dallas’s workshop on restorative justice, state systems, and legal practice.

Thalia and Amy’s readings

Articles & practical tools

Explore primers, research, lived-experience perspectives, and materials contributed by conference speakers.

Browse all resources

Featured films

Revisit Uncarcerated and The Silent (R)evolution, the short films featured with Leigh Scott and Julius Irving.

Find the film links

Conference highlights

Two complementary days.

Day One · Thursday, October 29

Foundations, victim rights, and restorative practice.

Thursday’s program connected restorative justice with legal practice, victim-survivors’ rights, and accountability. It included a poem by Josh Wilkinson, facilitated discussion, and short films with Leigh Scott and Julius Irving: Uncarcerated and The Silent (R)evolution. See screening details.

Day Two · Friday, October 30

Practice, lived experience, and next steps.

Friday’s program focused on community-led change, diversion programs, community-based restorative practices, and directly impacted voices. A Lunch & Learn with State Attorneys Melissa Nelson and Brian Kramer led into the closing conversation about next steps.

View the Program Archive

2026 speakers

Thank you to our speakers.

Meet all the speakers
  • Thalia González speaking at a lectern.

    Thalia González

    Professor of Law & James Edgar Hervey '50 Chair of Litigation; Faculty Co-Director, Center for Racial and Economic Justice

    UC Law San Francisco

  • Portrait of Amy Dallas.

    Amy Dallas

    Program Director

    CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

  • Portrait of Janelle Edens.

    Janelle Edens

    Executive Director

    Connection First

  • Julie and Michael McBride, outdoors.

    Julie and Michael McBride

    Family Members Directly Impacted by Serious Harm

    Lived Experience

We’d love to hear from you

Share your conference experience.

What stayed with you? What could we do better? Your feedback helps us learn from this gathering and shape future conversations.

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Stay connected.

The conference has concluded, but the conversation continues. Share a reflection, suggest a resource, or get in touch with the conference team.

Explore Resources Questions? Email the conference team
Conference participants together at the UF Law photo backdrop
A speaker presents at the lectern during the conference
Attendees listen to a speaker in the conference auditorium
A panel discussion with attendees seated throughout the auditorium
Panelists in conversation at the front of the auditorium
A view across the audience toward the conference panel
Participants gather in the auditorium for the opening morning
Conference welcome table with name badges and materials
Conference gathering space with tables and welcome screens
Refreshment table in the conference gathering space
The conference auditorium and UF Law stage before a session
Colorful participant reflections on the Leave a Note wall
A platter of fruit, cheese, and charcuterie at the conference reception.
Conference attendees talking around a table at the reception.
Attendees gathering and talking in the conference reception space.
Conference name badges and a colorful mosaic displayed at the welcome table.
Conference attendees gathered around tables in the bright glass-walled atrium.
Books, brochures, and community resources displayed for conference attendees.
A presenter leading a classroom discussion with conference participants.
A speaker addressing conference attendees from the lectern at UF Law.
Conference attendees listening to a presentation around tables in the event space.
Conference participants talking around tables beside the atrium windows.
Colorful handwritten participant reflections on a board labeled Leave a Note.
Participants joining a discussion in the UF Law lecture hall on the second day.