Lauren: How I Understand Harm & Accountability

Meet Lauren - S4JR Member

“I’m a social work graduate student, and I conducted a research project examining how intervention models for men who use violence in intimate partner relationships operate in practice. I’m proud of the work I’ve done to highlight the disconnect between how these models are intended to address harm and how they function within fragmented systems, and to explore more relational and non-carceral ways of thinking about accountability and support. This work has ignited my passion even more!”

I’m a Survivor & I Stand for Restorative & Transformative Justice Because…

“I am a survivor. I witnessed intimate partner violence as a child, I saw how the system let my family down in how it responded to my dad. I remember a teacher warning me in high school to be careful because I could end up in a similar situation one day. I didn’t believe it at the time but it did happen to me.

Even with my background in social work, I still experienced blame based on the assumption that I should have known better. While I didn’t find justice within the system, engaging in this work has been a meaningful part of my healing. These experiences have shaped how I understand harm and accountability, and why I stand for restorative and transformative justice.”

About Survivors 4 Justice Reform:

S4JR is a global coalition of survivors of s.xual violence, domestic violence, human trafficking - alongside our allies - united to challenge the failures & limitations of punitive, carceral systems. We advocate for restorative and transformative justice & recognize that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to justice. Learn more & get involved with our coalition via survivors4justicereform.com/join