Offering Hope, Encouraging Change

Jul 15, 2009

— filed under: Limitations, Support, Practice, Correspondent:Lynette Parker

By Lynette Parker

"A place where human potential is squashed." As I read this quote from someone working in prison ministry in Estonia, I couldn't help but contrast it with a statement made by an offender after a restorative conference, "I was happy because I think they really believe I can change."

I thought this was the highest form of compliment for the process and those who participated. When I shared the comment with a colleague, I said, "Sometimes that is all a person needs, the knowledge that someone else thinks he can do the right thing."

My colleague responded, "That is such a core truth and often forgotten especially in the criminal justice system with its judgments."

In the exchange, I began thinking of how we can lose sight of this hope and possibility of change even in restorative programmes:

A focus on offender accountability can lead us to stress the wrong done in a way that judges and discourages offenders.
Case processing and the demands of criminal justice agencies can redirect attention from people and their needs to technical requirements of compliance.
A desire to bring parties together to experience the powerful healing that can take place in a restorative process may lead us coerce participation or even mislead participants in our communications.
The reality of those we serve may mean missed appointments and antagonistic behaviour that can feel disrespectful and even harmful. If we are not careful, our frustrated response will send a message of hopelessness.

As I told my colleague, we need reminders to help us centre on hope and the possibility of change. What are some ways you maintain a focus on restorativeness? How can we communicate this message of hope in all our interactions with clients? What other possible pitfalls exist?

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