Punishing offenders for their crimes is the primary goal of the American criminal justice system. But what about victims & affected communities – does punishing offenders help them heal? Shannon Sliva argues for a shift towards Restorative Justice, a philosophy where "getting justice" means repairing harm. But for this movement to succeed in prisons & courtrooms, we must change our approach to conflict in our daily lives. Dr. Shannon Sliva, Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, researches the impacts of criminal justice policy. Partnered with Colorado practitioners, policymakers, and advocates, she is currently documenting the impacts of leadingedge restorative justice laws and developing recommendations for policy transfer. When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilderness with her husband, practicing ashtanga yoga, or petting a cat (any cat). Her love language is handmade pasta. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx