For restorative justice, the devil is in the details
from the column by J. Douglas Allen-Taylor in Oakland Local:
....The ordinance makes provision for existing agencies or non-profits to run the restorative justice component on a case-by-case referral basis, with instructions that the contracted program “may seek to involve the victim as well as the offender” in the restorative justice process. In addition the contracted program both makes the decision as to what will it take to bring restoration as well as to ultimately sign off on whether or not restoration was done.
Since that is one of the basic tenets or restorative justice—to bring victim and offender together to restore the whole—it would seem that the programs would almost always bring in the victims, as well as let the victims take the lead in deciding the restorative action.
Apr 26, 2013 Human Rights, Region: North America and Caribbean, System, Victim, Country:USA
Restorative justice scheme for young offenders proving to be a success for Cleveland Police
from the article by Graeme Hetherington in The Northern Echo:
A scheme giving young first time offenders the chance to learn from their mistakes is proving to be a success just a fortnight after it was launched.
Cleveland Police’s restorative justice project enables the victims of crime to have a greater say over the punishment of youngsters caught offending.
Apr 25, 2013 Police, Diversion, Country:England&Wales, Region:Europe
Youth United: We have a solution - restorative justice
from the entry by Haydi Torres and Blancy Rosales on Women in and beyond the Global:
....When students are suspended, we don’t get a chance to work on whatever it was that made us act out in the first place. And being sent home from school makes us feel like we don’t matter, that our school does not care about or believe in us.
Apr 24, 2013 Policy, School, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus talks restorative justice
from the interview with Kelly Pyzik for Scarlet & Black:
....First, could you tell me a little bit about the short course you taught at Grinnell the past two weeks?
The purpose of the course was to introduce students to the principles of restorative justice and their historical roots, to discuss current restorative justice programs and applications of restorative principles and to compare how our country currently addresses conflict and wrongdoing with how we might address those matters using a more restorative approach.
Apr 23, 2013 Court, Diversion, Prison, Judge, Country:USA
Criminal justice reform: A revolution on the American right
from the essay by Pat Nolan (with a response by Sadiq Khan) for IPPR:
....Conservatives have diagnosed our justice system as being very ill, and they have prescribed new policies to restore its health:
- Reserve costly prison space for dangerous offenders
- Focus on reducing future harm
- Fill each inmate’s day with productive activities
- Facilitate victim–offender dialogue
- Match offenders with mentors
- Provide opportunities for community service and r eparation
- Punish parole violations immediately
- Coordinate re-entry supervision and services.
Research shows that each of these policies is effective and keeps the public safe. Although these policies embody conservative principles, they enjoy broad bipartisan support across ideological, theological and racial lines....
Apr 22, 2013 Politics, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA
Using restorative justice at the pre-sentence stage of the criminal justice process
from the article by Ian Marder in TransConflict:
....This process is similar in many respects to that envisaged by Schedule 15(2) of the Crime and Courts Bill, currently making its way through the British Parliament, which specifies that the judiciary in England and Wales may “defer the passing of sentence to allow for restorative justice”. Deferred sentencing, as outlined originally in s.22 of the 1972 Criminal Justice Act, enables the Courts to consider the conduct of an offender post-conviction, but prior to sentencing. Following recommendations to expand its use in the 2001 Review of the Sentencing Framework, deferred sentencing appeared most recently in law under Schedule 23 of the 2003 Criminal Justice Act, which extended the definition of the word “conduct” and outlined a variety of requirements which the Courts can order of an offender whose sentence has been deferred.
Apr 19, 2013 Diversion, Country:England&Wales, Region: Europe, Prison
Widening the circle: Can peacemaking work outside of tribal communities?
from the paper by Robert V. Wolf for the Center for Court Innovation:
....This report was originally written as a guide for participants in the roundtable but raises practical questions for anyone interested in adapting peacemaking to non-tribal settings. After providing an overview of peacemaking, the paper outlines key issues jurisdictions will most likely want to consider during planning and implementation....
Apr 18, 2013 Theory, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA, Indigenous
The sorry state of the apology: Scriptural responses to society's shallow regret
from the article by Dorothy Greco on Christianity Today:
Though the word apology, as we know it, does not exist in the New Testament, an absence of the specific word does not indicate an absence of the concept. Scripture provides lessons for how to do this well and demonstrates that there is more to making an apology than what a press conference can provide....
1. The responsibility is on the offender to initiate the apology....
Seeking justice, from victims’ perspectives
from the commentary by Kimberly Rosa in the Santa Maria Times:
Her son was shot dead in a parking lot in Santa Maria. Another woman’s son was hit straight-on by a distracted driver and killed while riding his bike. An adult victim of physical beatings as a child shared how he reacted by living violently, and ultimately spent 38 years of his life in prison.
Those were some of the people who came to share their stories with 10 young people at a restorative justice program, “Help Increase the Peace; Victim Impact Panel Project,” or HIP/VIP. The young people were there because they had been involved in incidents and offenses where law enforcement was called. Empathy and accountability are the objectives the Conflict Solutions Center’s staff is offering via restorative justice.
Apr 16, 2013 Victim, Panel Discussion
Who will pay? Restorative justice in Texas
from the entry by Cyntia Alkon on ADR Prof Blog:
I recently learned of a proposed bill that involves restorative justice, which has some interesting pieces to it. This bill, S.B. 1237 , expressly authorizes the state to refer criminal cases to an “alternative dispute resolution system” if one already exists in the county. This can happen “regardless of whether the defendant in the criminal case has been formally charged.” However, “the state must obtain the consent of the victim to the referral.”
Apr 15, 2013 Politics, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA
