Jonathan Scharrer

Clinical Professor

Pronouns: he/him

Contact

jonathan.scharrer@wisc.edu
+16082637905
Room 4318B, Law School

Websites:
Restorative Justice Project

Education

J.D., Marquette University School of Law, 2008
Graduate Certificate-Dispute Resolution, Marquette University Graduate School, 2008
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005

Biography

Jonathan Scharrer is the Director of the Restorative Justice Project at the University of Wisconsin Law School's Frank J. Remington Center. He has extensive experience as a facilitator of victim-offender dialogues in sensitive and violent crimes and as a trainer in a variety of restorative justice (RJ) practices. His work has been featured on both 60 Minutes and CNN's The Redemption Project. Jonathan is also active in examining criminal legal policy and has assisted with drafting proposed RJ legislation and the design and implementation of multiple RJ diversion programs. He served as a member of the Advisory Council for the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice from 2017-2024.

Scholarship & Publications

Law Repository

Research Interests

Restorative Justice
Public Policy and Criminal Justice Reform
RJ in Higher Education
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Activities

Jonathan Scharrer presented "Rethinking Restorative Justice" at the Righting Wrongs Through Restoration; Nebraska Law Review 2025 Symposium on September 26, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Victim-Offender Dialogue: Program and Operation" at the Restorative Justice Course for The National Judicial College on June 5, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Intentional System Design" at the Restorative Justice Course for the National Judicial College on June 4, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Introduction to Restorative Justice" at the Restorative Justice course for The National Judicial College on June 3, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer co-presented the course “Practicing Holistic, Humanistic Law” for TRTCLE on Jan. 14, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Theory Meets Practice: Empirical Evaluations of Restorative Justice" at the Fordham Urban Law Journal's 2025 Symposium - Restorative Pathways: Reimagining Justice Reform for a Better Tomorrow, on February 14, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "From Blame and Shame to Transformation: Lessons from Restorative Justice" during the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution 2025 Spring Conference on April 25, 2025.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Restorative Justice & Restorative Practices" to the Opportunity Youth Coalition of Dane County on May 3, 2024.
Jonathan Scharrer presented during a Badger Talks program on "The Philosophy and Practice of Restorative Justice" to the Rotary Club of Madison on March 11, 2024.
Jonathan Scharrer presented “Implementing Restorative Justice as Diversion Workshop” during From Paradigm to Policy: Transforming Accountability and Public Safety with Restorative Justice hosted via Zoom by the Vera Institute of Justice on Jan. 26, 2024.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Brass Tacks: Implementing Restorative Justice as Diversion Policy," during From Paradigm to Policy: Transforming Accountability and Public Safety with Restorative Justice hosted via Zoom by the Vera Institute of Justice on Jan. 25, 2024.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Brass Tacks: Implementing Restorative Justice as Diversion Policy," during a discussion of From Paradigm to Policy: Transforming Accountability and Public Safety With Restorative Justice hosted by the Vera Institute of Justice on Jan. 25, 2024, via Zoom.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Systems Design in the Field" to the The National Judicial College on July 19, 2023. The presentation was on restorative justice and diversion in the criminal legal system.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Bias, Equity and Restorative Justice" during the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section webinar on June 13, 2023.
Jonathan Scharrer presented "Breaking the Cycle with Restorative Justice" during the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership and Development: Reentry Conference Lunch and Learn on June 8, 2023.