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Restorative justice is about creating the conditions for healing for everyone affected by harm. Few people understand that more personally than Malachi Scott, whose life was transformed by restorative justice while he was incarcerated. Today, the community healing manager, restorative justice practitioner, and co-founder of the North Oakland Restorative Justice Council reflects on the experiences that led him into the criminal legal system and the healing practices that helped him develop accountability, self-compassion, and a deeper sense of connection with others.
In conversation with Phoenix Soleil, Malachi explores the principles behind restorative justice, the role of restorative circles in creating trust and belonging, and why meaningful transformation happens in community rather than isolation. He explains how carefully facilitated spaces encourage vulnerability, accountability, and repair, while discussing victim-offender dialogue, surrogate panels, and the importance of supporting both people who have caused harm and those who have experienced it.
The conversation also examines Malachi's work supporting communities after incarceration, lessons from restorative justice efforts in Rwanda, and why investing in healing can strengthen communities for generations to come.
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What You’ll Learn:
Discover how restorative justice transformed Malachi's life during incarceration. [0:01:08]
Hear how Malachi’s family and environment shaped his decisions growing up and how restorative justice helped him heal. [0:06:29]
Explore how restorative circles foster vulnerability, accountability, and trust. [0:23:33]
Learn how victim-offender dialogue supports healing for everyone affected by harm. [0:29:40]
Examine how restorative practices strengthen communities after incarceration and violence. [0:38:40]
Explore what Rwanda's reconciliation efforts reveal about collective healing after conflict. [0:40:46]
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Memorable Quotations:
“Going through restorative justice helped me realize how deeply I impacted people with my decision-making.” — Malachi Scott [0:04:30]
“I'm at a point where I see, I realize that we are all connected, and it is very, very important to honor our fellow brothers and sisters in this world, and within their life experiences.” — Malachi Scott [0:04:37]
“I was able to eventually have compassion for myself and realize that I also was somebody who was impacted as well: by abuse, by learned behaviors, by teachings that I was receiving.” — Malachi Scott [0:05:10]
“Human beings are human beings, no matter what level of prison they're on, no matter where they work in society or what city they live in. There's room if we invest in healing practices.” — Malachi Scott [0:22:09]
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Garry Malachi Scott – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-malachi-scott-aa2449a5/
Atunse Justice League – Website: https://www.atunsejusticeleague.org/
Atunse Justice League Podcast – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atunsejusticeleague
Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) – Website: https://rjoyoakland.org/
Surrogate Restorative Justice Circles and Survivor Support – Website: https://mendcollaborative.org/surrogate-restorative-justice-circles-and-survivor-support/
Insight Prison Project – Website: http://www.insightprisonproject.org/
Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG) – Website: http://www.insightprisonproject.org/victim-offender-education-group-voeg1.html
Mind Body Awareness Project – Website: https://mbaproject.org/
The North Oakland Restorative Justice Council (NORJC) – Website: https://northoaklandrestorativejustice.wordpress.com/
The North Oakland Restorative Justice Council (NORJC) – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthOaklandRestorativeJustice/
Kid C.A.T. – Website: https://www.thekidcat.org/
Unlikely Friends – Documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2415722/
The Redemption Project with Van Jones – Documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7816792/
Phoenix Soleil – Website: https://www.phoenixsoleil.com/
Phoenix Soleil The Center for Nonviolent Communication – Website: https://www.cnvc.org/trainers/phoenix-soleil
Phoenix Soleil – Newsletter: https://share.hsforms.com/1j_BdrcSmSneC4N8Kz-9Y2wc5nrc
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