About Us
Dr. Sandra Pavelka, Ph.D., is President and CEO of Community & Restorative Justice Associates and Pavelka Consulting Group. Dr. Pavelka serves as Professor and Founding Director of the Institute for Youth and Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Pavelka was recently awarded the 2024 Women in Business APEX Award by the Greater Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Pavelka is the recipient of the distinguished Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation by the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, US Congress as well as the eminent National Points of Light award. She is also the recipient of the Leadership and Service Award by the Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the McTarnaghan Teaching Award at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Dr. Pavelka previously served as Project Administrator of the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Project, funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to her appointment at Florida Atlantic University, she served as the Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Youth Policy at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center. In this position, she administered the Florida and National Juvenile Detention Initiatives funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and served as Research Director for the Center.
Dr. Pavelka received her Ph.D. in Public Administration with a specialization in Justice Policy from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. Her dissertation, Practice to Policy to Management: A Restorative Justice Framework, focused on system reform and policy implementation of restorative justice nationally. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University in Miami, Florida and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.
Dr. Pavelka is an internationally recognized restorative justice expert. Dr. Pavelka is Senior Advisor on Restorative Justice for Restorative Justice on the Rise and the Peace Alliance. Dr. Pavelka serves on the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Association Advisory Council and is Chair of the Law and Policy Committee. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the U.S. Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus. Dr. Pavelka is a Certified Family Court Mediator and Certified Restorative Justice Trainer. Dr. Pavelka has authored numerous books, book chapters, publications, and conference presentations. She provides consultation, training and technical assistance with legislators, policymakers, justice system and educational stakeholders, victim advocates, nonprofit and community organizations in the development and implementation of restorative justice principles, practices, legislation, policies and evaluation.
Dr. Pavelka is a Political and Justice Analyst for local, state and national media. Dr. Pavelka is Co-Chair of the Girls Coordinating Council of Southwest Florida. She is actively involved in service through her work in the community with the PACE Center for Girls, Circuit 20 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, among other organizations. Dr. Pavelka’s greatest pride is her 3 children - Lauren, Breann, and Conner.
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BOOKS
International Perspectives on Restorative Justice in Education. Editors: Charlton, J., S. Pavelka, and P.J. Verrecchia. Kanata, ON: J Charlton Publishing Ltd, 2011.
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Pavelka, S. and D. Thomas, “The Evolution of Balanced and Restorative Justice,” Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 7(1), 2019.
Pavelka, S. and A. Seymour, “Guiding Principles for Restorative Justice and Victims,” Corrections Today, Jan/Feb 2019.
Pavelka, S., Restorative Justice in the States: An Analysis of Statutory Legislation and Policy, Justice Policy Journal, 13(2), 2016.
Pavelka, S. and D. Thomas, "Performance Measurement in Juvenile Justice: Developing and Implementing Model Reporting Systems," Perspectives, American Probation and Parole Association, Winter 2016.
Rowan Leach, M. and S. Pavelka, "The Political Rise of Restorative Justice," Huffington Post, March 26, 2014.
Pavelka, S. "Practices and Policies for Implementing Restorative Justice Within Schools," The Prevention Researcher, 20(1), 2013.
O'Brien, S. "Restorative Justice: Principles, Practices, and Application," The Prevention Researcher, 14, 2007.
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