February 2006 Edition
Stories include: A Survey of 10 Years of New Zealand Court Cases on Restorative Justice; Making Victims' Voices Heard; Video Review: Burning Bridges; Book Review: Restorative justice on the college campus: Promoting student growth and responsibility, and reawakening the spirit of campus community; Meet Theo Gavrielides; Website of the Month: Community Circles of Washington County.
A Survey of 10 Years of New Zealand Court Cases on Restorative Justice
This paper by Judge Stan Thorburn offers a brief account of the development of restorative justice in the Courts of New Zealand since it has been practised over the past 10 years. In particular, it examines a selection of court decisions and identifies significant principles emerging from them. Finally, it compares those to legislation, in particular the Sentencing Act 2002.
Making Victims' Voices Heard
Victims’ Voices Heard (VVH) provides victims and victim survivors of severe violence the opportunity to meet with their offenders in a facilitated encounter. Located in Delaware, it is based on a model first developed in Texas. Kim Book, programme coordinator for VVH, describes her experience with the criminal justice system and shares a victim perspective on the mediation process.
Video Review: Burning Bridges
This 35 minute documentary begins with news reports of the arson of an historic wooden covered bridge in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and the eventual apprehension of six local, college age men who set the fire. The focus of the video, however, is made up of footage of a restorative conference conducted by the International Institute for Restorative Practices. It concludes with television news footage after the sentencing.
Book Review: Restorative justice on the college campus: Promoting student growth and responsibility, and reawakening the spirit of campus community
Restorative interventions are gaining popularity as a discipline alternative on college campuses. Gregory Strong reviews this collection of essays discussing the implementation of restorative practices on the college campus.
Website of the Month: Community Circles of Washington County
Community Circles are used in the criminal justice system in Washington County, Minnesota to provide support to victims, develop sentencing agreements for offenders, and empower the community in responding to and preventing crime. This website describes the circles process.
Meet Theo Gavrielides
Theo Gavrielides is an academic and a practitioner working in the fields of restorative justice, criminal justice and human rights.
