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Justice 101: Restorative Justice: A Closer Look at Alternatives

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

5:30 - 7:30pm EST

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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. 

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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. 

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