ST. PAUL — Kendall Hughes has been named the first-ever director of the newly created Office of Restorative Practices (ORP) within the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS). With decades of experience in restorative work — both in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and a nonprofit in southeastern Minnesota — Hughes brings a deep understanding of helping people rebuild their lives after crime.

Hughes has spent his career working with people affected by crime — those who have been harmed and those who caused harm. He started as a nonprofit worker in lower-income communities and then served for 20 years as a federal prison chaplain. During this time, he developed programs that helped incarcerated men build skills, form supportive relationships and engage in meaningful conversations with survivors of violent crimes. In 2019, he co-founded Three Rivers Restorative Justice, which helps people resolve conflicts without going to court. The program has been successful, with high satisfaction rates from participants and a reduction in reoffending.

“The Office of Restorative Practices will accomplish its mission hand in hand with the growing community of capable and compassionate restorative practitioners across Minnesota,” Hughes said. “It’s a privilege to walk with those who have decades of experience and shared passion for making Minnesota safer for all people, especially American Indians, people of color and others who have disproportionately experienced harm.”

As ORP director, Hughes will work closely with local communities to help them create restorative practices that heal harm, build accountability, and make Minnesota safer. Each county or jurisdiction in Minnesota will form a restorative practices advisory committee made up of community members and justice system staff. These committees will design programs and processes that work for their areas.  They will also determine which restorative initiatives from their communities are endorsed to submit proposals for grants.

On Oct. 1, the ORP began seeking requests for proposals for grants of up to $500,000. A total of eight million dollars is available for new or current restorative initiatives across Minnesota.

Restorative practices focus on:

• Repairing harm: Helping those who caused harm make amends and rebuild relationships.
• Restoring the community: Meeting the needs of those who were harmed and strengthening community bonds.
• Personal accountability: Encouraging those responsible for harm to take responsibility, apologize, and avoid reoffending.
• Preventing future harm: Addressing the root causes of conflict and fostering healthy relationships.

Programs might include restorative conferences, where people come together to discuss the harm caused and agree on how to move forward, or family group meetings to develop a plan for addressing harm. The goal is to prevent court involvement when possible and provide alternatives to traditional legal processes.

For more information or to sign up for grant notifications, visit the Office of Restorative Practices website.