""Although Restorative Justice Dialogue is not a long text, it is an impressive achievement. Each chapter is rich in content, as Umbreit and Armour blend theory, practice, empirical research, and case studies to discuss a range of topics from specific models of restorative justice to the role of facilitators in restorative justice dialogue.""

--PsycCRITIQUES

""Restorative Justice Dialogue" presents a thorough and comprehensive explanation and assessment of the current state of restorative justice in the world."

"--Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics"

"" A]n evidence-based description of the history, practices, and future of restorative dialogue that is informed by the values and principles of law, social work, and spirituality. This is an impressive achievement.""

--Daniel W. Van Ness Prison Fellowship International, Washington, DC

""I know of no other book that provides such a complete review of the various and emerging restorative practices and the phenomenal growth of this movement worldwide.""

--David Karp, PhD Skidmore College

""The combination of two outstanding and widely recognized restorative justice researchers, practitioners, and authors has produced a text that is destined to be a major resource.""

--Katherine Van Wormer, PhD University of Northern Iowa

This book provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding restorative justice and its application worldwide to numerous social issues. Backed by reviews of empirical research and case examples, the authors describe the core restorative justice practices, including victim-offender mediation, family group conferencing, and peacemaking circles, as well as cultural considerations, emerging variations in a wide variety of settings, and the crucial role of the facilitator. Together, authors Umbreit and Armour bring the latest empirical research and clinical wisdom to those invested in the research and practice of restorative justice. Key topics:

Spiritual components of restorative justice
Victim-offender mediation
Family group conferencing
Peacemaking circles
Victim-offender dialogue in crimes of severe violence
Dimensions of culture in restorative justice
Humanistic mediation
Application to domestic violence, higher education, and incarceration

"Dancing with the Energy of Conflict & Trauma, Letting Go - Finding Peace" is about bearing witness to and learning from real life struggles with conflict and traumatic events - some from the author's life and many more from those he has worked with in numerous countries. The healing power of story is the book's guiding path. The supreme importance of humanizing one's adversaries and humbling ourselves is the book's guiding spirit. The focus is upon finding strength, compassion, and peace within our lives and others. One's peace need not be dependent upon individuals or circumstances one is in conflict with, unless one chooses to place power there. This book is about becoming aware of and working with the energy of conflict or traumatic events in a way that doesn't focus exclusively on the verbal expression of the conflict. Words of conflict and trauma can cause one to become stuck in the powerful emotions one is trying to avoid. "Dancing with the Energy of Conflict & Trauma" is neither a training manual nor a definitive textbook. It is offered as a collection of powerful real life stories about the search for meaning and wholeness in the midst of conflict and traumatic events, all of which have been part of Dr. Umbreit's life journey and his work for over 30 years with individuals and groups from more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. "Dancing with the Energy of Conflict & Trauma" offers a window into what many would consider to be one of the most powerful, yet least understood approaches to dealing with severe conflict and trauma - that of embracing and working with the energy that is driving the conflict. The intent is to assist the reader in learning the importance of healthy release of toxic emotional energy that keeps us stuck in patterns of conflict, and learning to let go of our efforts to change other people or difficult circumstances with which we are faced. Learning to focus on the only thing we truly have power to change: ourselves and the energy we bring to what we experience, and learning practices that foster strength and peace within our souls. It means embracing life in its wholeness and nurturing our mind, body, and spirit. This book begins with several brief stories of how painful conflict and life threatening traumatic events in the author's life and others have been and continue to be his greatest teachers of life wisdom, compassion, and humility. The healing and release found in some stories is totally independent of a dialogue with the person who caused the harm or a cure of the traumatic event or diagnosis. Many other stories involve face-to-face dialogue between the person who was deeply harmed and the perpetrator. All of the stories bear witness to the incredible strength and resilience of the human spirit. "Dancing with the Energy of Conflict & Trauma" is an invitation to expand our awareness of the magic and mystery to be found in walking the path of authentic transformation and healing through directly facing our most difficult conflicts and traumatic experiences. Stories will come from workplace settings, families, within communities, and in war torn nations from Northern Ireland, to Africa, and the Middle East. These stories stretch the imagination of what can be possible in fostering our own healing. They provide powerful testimony to the strength of the human spirit; touching of the soul of humanity even in the presence of some of the most evil and violent behavior imaginable. It requires entering an unfamiliar yet deeply enriching state of being that all are capable of, despite our backgrounds, our woundedness, our culture, and our education. The book concludes with what can be learned from courageous individuals who offer many gifts of awakening that can enrich our lives and free our spirit. Practical tools for the journey of facing conflict and traumatic events are offered as well.