On 8 and 9 September 2022, Dr. Ian Marder (Assistant Professor in Criminology, Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology) co-facilitated a dialogue process in Dublin West, in collaboration with community members and Gardaí. Their goal was to explore the extent to which restorative practices could be used to facilitate dialogue and build understanding between young Black adults who live, and Gardaí who work, in Blanchardstown.

Restorative practices (RP) are a set of principles, skills and processes that enable relationship building and participatory dialogue. Facilitators structured the conversations using ‘circle processes’, meaning that the participants sat in a circle and the right to speak revolved around the group sequentially. The circle process aimed to equalise power among participants and ensure that everyone present had the opportunity to speak uninterrupted in response to the questions asked. The questions aimed to build understanding and relationships through the sharing of personal experiences and perspectives. Circle processes use a talking piece to indicate whose turn it is to speak and to listen, and to prevent anyone from being interrupted during their turn to speak....