Jacob Otis (Jake), MSW

Jacob Otis is a researcher, practitioner, and educator in restorative justice (RJ), focusing on mindfulness and humanistic approaches to conflict transformation. He serves as co-instructor with Dr. Mark Umbreit at the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing for CSPH 5212: Peacebuilding Through Mindfulness: Transformative Dialogue in the Global Community and CSPH 5215: Forgiveness and Healing: A Journey Toward Wholeness.

His research and practice center on the use of peacebuilding and restorative justice in domestic violence programming for men. Jacob also serves as Director of Programming at St. Croix Valley Restorative Services, Research Associate and Trainer at the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, and also works as a UX research consultant.

• Jacob Otis. (2025). Social Expectations of Forgiveness. The Society Pages: World Suffering.
• Jacob Otis. (2025). Social Isolation and “Loneliness” of Young Adults. The Society Pages: There’s Research on That.
• Jacob Otis and Mark Umbreit. (2024). Dialogue Among Those Committing and Harmed by Crime: Five Decades of Practice and Research in Restorative Justice in Legal Systems, Education and the Community: Reflections On What Works, Where We Can Grow, and What's Next
• Jacob Otis. (2022). Transforming Community Policing: A Restorative Approach to Police Complaints. Perspectives on Social Work,17(2), 18-34.

Co-teaches the following courses with Dr. Mark Umbreit:

• CSPH 5212: Peacebuilding Through Mindfulness: Transformative Dialogue in the Global Community
• CSPH 5215: Forgiveness and Healing: A Journey Toward Wholeness