Skip to main content
Talks
All Ages
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: Restorative Justice: A Closer Look at Alternatives

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

5:30 - 7:30pm EST

J101EventsThumbnail1.jpg

Click this link to view other Justice 101 videos.

 
Restorative justice offers a transformative approach to addressing harm, emphasizing dialogue and understanding between victims and perpetrators as a path to healing and closure. This panel will explore the dynamics of restorative justice practices, many of which are rooted in indigenous traditions, where individuals directly affected by crime engage in facilitated conversations aimed at acknowledging harm, fostering empathy, and rebuilding trust. In the context of the broader reform movement, restorative justice challenges the traditional punitive approach of the criminal justice system by focusing on reconciliation and community-based solutions.

Panelists Suzanne V. Estrella, Commonwealth Victim Advocate, and Keith Hickman, Vice President for Partnerships for the International Institute of Restorative Practices, will discuss how these practices can serve as a powerful alternative to incarceration, highlighting the role of restorative justice in the quest for a more humane and just society. The discussion will delve into real-world applications of restorative justice, examining its impact on both victims and perpetrators, and its potential to reduce incarceration. By connecting personal narratives with systemic change, this panel will offer insights into how restorative justice can lead to meaningful resolution and the reimagining of justice itself.

Moderated by Dr. Kerry Sautner, Eastern State President and CEO. 

About Justice 101:
Powered by the Eastern State Center for Justice Education, Justice 101 is a discussion series that dives into some of the most pressing issues in criminal justice today, through a historical lens and with a focus on civic education. Each program includes interactive online or in-person elements, expert voices, and opportunities for community dialogue.

About the Panelists:

Suzanne V. Estrella (she/her)

Commonwealth Victim Advocate

Suzanne is a victims' rights attorney with over 30 years of legal experience including 15 years of legal advocacy serving survivors of crime in Pennsylvania. Her years at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) as their Legal Director have brought an understanding of the trauma endured by crime victims and an insight into the ways in which systems created to protect victims can often re-traumatize them. Suzanne’s passion for justice and commitment to centering the marginalized has led the Office of Victim Advocate to expand its victims’ services, as well as its crime prevention and restorative justice efforts. Suzanne is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, Florida Bar, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She has been highlighted as one of Pennsylvania’s Fifty over 50, the recipient of the Luminary Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the American Jurisprudence Award. Suzanne is also an experienced trainer providing training to allied professionals on trauma informed legal services, implicit bias and victims’ rights.   

Keith Hickman

Vice President for Partnerships for the International Institute of Restorative Practices

Keith is Vice President for Partnerships for the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP), where he leads strategic efforts to strengthen relationships, empower communities, and advance restorative practices worldwide. A visionary executive with 30 years of leadership in the nonprofit and government sectors, Keith has focused on community health, civic leadership, and education. Keith has worked across education, justice, and community systems, advising initiatives such as the Maryland Commission on addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, CASEL’s Equity Work Group, and the California Safe, Healthy, Responsive Schools Network. His efforts have helped shape restorative practices in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Louisville, as well as internationally in the country of Jamaica. In Detroit, he collaborated with schools, law enforcement, community organizations, and a local foundation to embed restorative practices in their work benefiting children and families.

Previously, Keith held leadership roles with the New York City Department of Education and various nonprofits. He co-founded the Youth Justice Project at the Harlem Community Justice Center, empowering young leaders through youth courts and service-learning programs. He serves on the Executive Board of Inflexion Nonprofit Consulting and as an executive advisor to NYC’s first Creative Conflict Resolution Center. A member of the Citizens University National Civic Collaboratory, Keith remains committed to advancing social change through restorative practices globally. 

We strive to make the penitentiary and our site, programs, and exhibits accessible to all visitors. Click here to learn more about accessibility and accommodations at ESPHS.



This program is part of Justice 101, a discussion series that dives into some of the most pressing issues in criminal justice today, through a historical lens and with a focus on civic education. Each program includes interactive elements, expert voices, and opportunities for community dialogue. 

Co-Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Interested in more events in this series?

Justice 101: Redefining Rehabilitation — From Norway to Pennsylvania
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: Redefining Rehabilitation — From Norway to Pennsylvania

Tuesday, September 08, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Free online and in-person. Join us for a conversation exploring Norway’s "normality principle,” a groundbreaking approach to incarceration that prioritizes humanity and rehabilitation, and learn about ongoing efforts to replicate the model and research its impact through the Scandinavian Prison Project at SCI-Chester, a state correctional institution near Philadelphia.

Justice 101: Voices Beyond the Walls — Justice, Reentry, and Civic Power
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: Voices Beyond the Walls — Justice, Reentry, and Civic Power

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Free online and in-person. In recognition of National Voter Registration Day, the Philadelphia City Commissioners' Office and the Eastern State Center for Justice Education are partnering to present a panel and networking event exploring voting rights and civic engagement for justice-involved individuals and all community members.

Justice 101: The History of American Incarceration
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future

Justice 101: The History of American Incarceration

Thursday, September 17, 2026
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Free online. Celebrate Constitution Day by tracing the origins of the United States prison system, examining Eastern State’s role within this history as America’s first penitentiary, and considering how past practices continue to drive today’s justice system and modern reform efforts.

Justice 101: Erasure of Queer History
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: Erasure of Queer History

Tuesday, October 06, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Details to come, check back for updates.

Justice 101: Religious Freedom and the Justice System
Justice 101
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: Religious Freedom and the Justice System

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Details to come, check back for updates.

Justice 101: From Natural Rights to "Slave of the State"- Philadelphia's Founding Vision and the Making of the "Slave of the State"
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: From Natural Rights to “Slave of the State”- Philadelphia’s Founding Vision and the Making of the “Slave of the State”

Tuesday, November 24, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Details to come, check back for updates.

Justice 101: Faith, Sanctuary, and Community
Program Series
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
In-Person & Online

Justice 101: Faith, Sanctuary, and Community

Thursday, December 03, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Additional details to come, check back for updates. Join us for an evening that opens with a panel discussion and features live musical performances exploring how religious connection sustains people through incarceration.

Justice 101: Examining the Justice System and the Unfinished work of the Founding and the Prisoners' Rights Revolution
A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future

Justice 101: Examining the Justice System and the Unfinished work of the Founding and the Prisoners’ Rights Revolution

Wednesday, December 09, 2026
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Details to come, check back for updates.

Sign up for our newsletter