Transformative Justice
Over the past couple of years we have been in deep conversation with our dear friend Quetzal Flores about what Transformative Justice is, what it looks like, and how it feels (a big shout out to him for being a part of igniting this conversation, guiding us through it, and sharing his knowledge). We are committed to the difficult and necessary work around this powerful practice that will guide us away from punitive justice and towards transformation and freedom.
What Is Transformative Justice?
Transformative justice (TJ) is a philosophy of justice with strong roots in social movements. It takes a broad look at conflict to examine the wider social forces and institutionalized pressures that engender violence and harm.
Though an expansive topic that involves many interrelated concepts, TJ can be simplified to a basic transformative justice definition. According to Mia Mingus and Transform Harm, TJ “seeks to respond to violence without creating more violence and/or engaging in harm reduction to lessen the violence.” Additionally, Mia Mingus states that TJ responses and interventions
do not rely on the state (e.g. police, prisons, the criminal legal system, I.C.E., foster care system (though some TJ responses do rely on or incorporate social services like counseling);
do not reinforce or perpetuate violence such as oppressive norms or vigilantism; and most importantly,
actively cultivate the things we know prevent violence such as healing, accountability, resilience, and safety for all involved.
Its core philosophy is encapsulated in these four transformative justice principles:
TJ is against violence and punishment, institutionalization and imprisonment.
Crime is a form of community-based conflict, where society and the government are also involved as possible offenders.
TJ brings issues of identity back into the realm of justice by addressing socio-political injustices toward marginalized groups.
TJ believes in the value of mediation, negotiation, and community circles to transform conflicts.
Overall, TJ is built on foundations of anti-violence, community support, and accountability.
Transformative vs Restorative Justice
TJ is sometimes conflated or confused with the philosophy of restorative justice (RJ) because they do have clearly connected roots. However, TJ can actually be better understood in relation to RJ, because transformative justice emerged as a response to some of the elements of restorative justice.
While both systems of justice focus on harm reparation and violence reduction, and both acknowledge the impact of systemic oppression, RJ centers its concern on the dynamic between victim and perpetrator. TJ, on the other hand, moves beyond that, and uses those smaller conflicts to examine and critique larger societal issues that lead to violence and harm.
While TJ identifies and addresses groups, institutions, and agencies that produce and perpetuate oppression, it does not do so in a punitive manner. Transformative justice “does not view anyone as an enemy, but rather argues that everyone needs to be involved in a voluntary safe constructive critical dialogue where people take accountability, responsibility, and the initiative to heal.”
This intersection of community and accountability is at the heart of what we do here at CONTRA-TIEMPO. As a Los Angeles-based activist dance company, we are dedicated to transforming the world through dance—building community, facilitating dialogue, and moving audiences to imagine what is possible. By engaging audiences with our physically intense and politically astute performance work, we endeavor to awaken their sense of themselves as artists and as social change agents.
Explore our engagement offerings, upcoming events and performances, and virtual engagements for a taste of what we bring to the Los Angeles community and beyond! Join our familia and connect with us, or support our movement by purchasing from our shop or donating today!