Stories from the Media

Read articles from various media outlets about restorative justice and restorative processes.

Civilizing offenders requires community relationships
Sawyer family moves forward after devastating loss: from wsbt.com (tip of the hat to Vancouver Association for Restorative Justice): When he left home the morning of July 16, 2008, Patrick was just weeks away from completing his degree. It was early, before sunrise, and he was riding his bicycle west on Cleveland Road, headed to the YMCA to swim laps before class at Indiana University South Bend. He was wearing a helmet and reflective vest and riding with traffic, and he had lights on the front and back of his bicycle.
Media toolkit for restorative justice organizations: from the introduction by Brunilda Pali: Citizens generally do not make in-depth research on important issues, like crime and justice, and scientific research has shown that the public lacks a clear understanding of RJ. Research has also shown that the public relies especially on mass media for information that enables them to make opinions on crime and punishment. The information transmitted through the media can come from different sources, and RJ organisations should be one of the main sources to provide information. But in order to gain access to the mass media, these organisations must first understand the media, and learn the skills and the techniques needed to communicate with them.
Schaefer, Diane. A Disembodied Community Collaborates in a Homicide: Can Empathy Transform a Failing Justice System?: Restorative justice concepts and principles transformed by fearful response to a local homicide into anger at 'disembodies community'. Drawing on conversations with residents and newspaper accounts, I analyze the social arrangements in Charleston, Illinois (10,000 population, 20,000 during the academic year) that conspired to isolate neighbors from each other while nurturing the intimidating behaviors of Anthony Mertz, the person arrested for killing Shannon McNamara. I also explore how the implementation of community dialogue guided by restorative justice practices and peacemaking criminology precepts would have created a different social context, a context less likely to have produced the murder in the first place. (author's abstract)
Maryport woman meets youths who made life hell: from the article in the Times & Star: A Maryport woman has come face-to-face with some of the youths who have turned her life into a living hell for the past seven years. The meeting was part of a new restorative justice programme where offenders meet victims to drive home the consequences of their actions. Julie Messenger, 44, of Ellenborough Old Road, has been the target of anti-social behaviour that has cost her hundreds of pounds and turned her life, and that of her 12-year-old daughter, into a living hell.
Long path to redemption: Restorative justice has success stories, but law doesn't require its use: from J. Adrian Stanley's article in Colorado Springs Independent: Back in June 2005, [Jonathan] Price was 17 and looking forward to his senior year at Sand Creek High School with his "posse" a tight group of friends, mostly military brats, who had spent their high school years invading each other's houses like family, having sleepovers and playing Halo. When they were younger, they caused the "boys will be boys" brand of trouble stealing bulbs out of porch lights, ringing doorbells and running away. Now they were acting their age more often. One day, Price and buddies Terence Henderson and Marcus (last name not available) decided to head to Price's place. Marcus called shotgun. Henderson insisted on riding on top of the trunk. Price began driving. He rounded a curve and paused at a stop sign. That's when they noticed Henderson was gone. The boy had fallen off the back and hit his head. A day later, he was dead.
Boys pay for crime with school chores: from Colin's article on Welsh Icons: An incident which occurred at Mynydd Cynffig Infants School, Kenfig Hill in January has been dealt with by means of ‘Restorative Justice’. A storage shed was broken into at the school and property was removed. Following a successful Police investigation four local culprits were apprehended and the stolen property was later returned to the school. After admitting to what they had done and on the request of the school a ‘Restorative Justice’ meeting was held which involving the Police, the school, the boys and their parents.
Vermont’s juvenile justice system saves a woman’s life
'Talking stick' helps facilitate restorative justice response to destructive behaviors
Courage to repair: from the editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: A racist prank perpetrated outside the University of Missouri's Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center 11 days ago has evoked a reassuring response. The two undergraduates — Zachary E. Tucker and Sean D. Fitzgerald — tried to make a mockery of the bitter history of black servitude. They scattered cotton balls outside the culture center under cover of night. But their crude handiwork was greeted with sharp and universal condemnation. Both students were identified and suspended from school. Last week, they were arrested. The Boone County prosecutor is weighing whether to pursue criminal charges.
Coffee shop is site of healing: Todd C. Frankel's article in St Louis Post-Dispatch: He didn't know what to expect. He was sick with dread. His eyes were bloodshot from crying. Aaron Poisson was returning to the Starbucks where two years earlier his actions had killed another man. He didn't have to be here. He had served his time. Now 21, Poisson spent nine months in jail after pleading guilty of fatally running over Roger Kreutz, a customer trying to stop Poisson as the young man fled this coffee shop off Watson Road with a stolen tip jar containing less than $5. He says he didn't intend to hurt Kreutz, didn't know until days later what he had done. Accompanied by his father, Poisson was headed back to the Starbucks, to a ceremony to spread Kreutz's ashes below a memorial tree planted just yards from the fatal scene. Kreutz's extended family and dozens of friends were there. Poisson feared their anger, the hatred. "But it feels like something I have to do," said Poisson, wearing a sweater and black slacks, as though he were headed to church. "It's something I want to do."
Vermont’s juvenile justice teaches kids community can help: This is the third of four columns in a series about the nation’s oldest and most mature restorative juvenile justice system.
On delivering nuanced messages in a soundbite culture: "Trendy 'restorative justice' schemes to stamp out bullying at schools 'do not work'," the headline trumpeted. The article by Laura Clark on Mail Online (the website of the Daily Mail) began in the same vein: "Trendy 'no punishment' approaches to tackling bullying are not working in many schools, a researcher warned yesterday. More than 600 schools use 'restorative justice' techniques which allow bullies to escape punishment if they face their victims and apologise. But a Cambridge University academic told a conference the approach has been 'widely exaggerated' as a remedy for bullying."
Possible ABC TV series showing victim-offender encounters: from Michele Rosenthal's entry on Heal My PTSD: Last week I got a very interesting call from ABC TV. They’re developing a 20/20 episode or a series based on the subject of restorative justice. I had a long chat with Andrew Sullivan about his expectations for the piece and what they hope to achieve with it. He mentioned that they are actively seeking survivors who would be right for the series; I offered to help him reach out. ....After our conversation Andrew summarized the idea in an email to me. I’m sharing it with you in case any of you would like to follow up with him.
Lucey, Terry. A Balanced Approach in Dealing with an Offense: The personal story of someone who has worked in a non-restorative justice-oriented area of the criminal justice system and his reflection on the differences between the two approaches.
Asking Questions and Speaking the Truth: In 2006, Kathy Key's husband was killed on his way home from work when his motorcycle was hit by a car. The driver was arrested for driving drunk. Through a restorative justice programme, Kathy met the man responsible for her husbands death. In this two minute interview with BBC, Kathy explains her reasons for participating in the meeting and what she felt the offender got out of the meeting.
Boys made to work at park to compensate for vandalism: from the article in Ripley and Heanor News: Three teenagers from Amber Valley have been helping rangers at Shipley Country Park as recompense for damaging a shed in the area. The three boys caused the damage last month and, as punishment for their behaviour, were made to go back to the park and work for a day alongside the rangers.
Knife robber meets victim: from the article in Lancaster Guardian: A woman who was robbed at knifepoint visited her teenage attacker in prison to receive an apology from him as part of a restorative justice project. Police offered Zoe Harrison the chance to meet Arron Burns, 18, at Lancaster Farms, to help her bring closure to her ordeal.
You are forgiven: Family reunites with castaway son: From the article in the Solomon Star: “YOU are my son again” was the statement the son and the audience were waiting to hear. George Topou, has been waiting hopelessly to hear that statement from his father’s mouth, and it did emotionally assemble tears in everyone’s eyes, when John Tepala screamed them out loud with tears yesterday. Topou is a prisoner who is the ninth to reconcile with his victim and family members through the Sycamore Tree project.
TV captures killer driver's remorse: from John cousins' article in Bay of Plenty Times: A trail-breaking television documentary featuring an emotionally harrowing face-to-face meeting between killer driver Kristy King and one of her victim's families will have a strong Tauranga connection. Tauranga restorative justice facilitators Tim Clarke and Sharon Stewart play a pivotal role in the conference which screens tomorrow on TV2's 20/20 programme. A documentary team were there to film the raw emotions of the conference which preceded King's sentencing last month on three charges of careless driving causing death.

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Navigation Press Room What is Restorative Justice? Personal Stories Audio/Video Resources Stories from the Media Restorative Justice Processes Kinds of Crimes Restorative Justice around the World Uses Outside of Criminal Justice	Info Stories from the Media Read articles from various media outlets about restorative justice and restorative processes. Civilizing offenders requires community relationships Sawyer family moves forward after devastating loss from wsbt.com (tip of the hat to Vancouver Association for Restorative Justice): When he left home the morning of July 16, 2008, Patrick was just weeks away from completing his degree. It was early, before sunrise, and he was riding his bicycle west on Cleveland Road, headed to the YMCA to swim laps before class at Indiana University South Bend. He was wearing a helmet and reflective vest and riding with traffic, and he had lights on the front and back of his bicycle. Media toolkit for restorative justice organizations from the introduction by Brunilda Pali: Citizens generally do not make in-depth research on important issues, like crime and justice, and scientific research has shown that the public lacks a clear understanding of RJ. Research has also shown that the public relies especially on mass media for information that enables them to make opinions on crime and punishment. The information transmitted through the media can come from different sources, and RJ organisations should be one of the main sources to provide information. But in order to gain access to the mass media, these organisations must first understand the media, and learn the skills and the techniques needed to communicate with them. Schaefer, Diane. A Disembodied Community Collaborates in a Homicide: Can Empathy Transform a Failing Justice System? Restorative justice concepts and principles transformed by fearful response to a local homicide into anger at 'disembodies community'. Drawing on conversations with residents and newspaper accounts, I analyze the social arrangements in Charleston, Illinois (10,000 population, 20,000 during the academic year) that conspired to isolate neighbors from each other while nurturing the intimidating behaviors of Anthony Mertz, the person arrested for killing Shannon McNamara. I also explore how the implementation of community dialogue guided by restorative justice practices and peacemaking criminology precepts would have created a different social context, a context less likely to have produced the murder in the first place. (author's abstract) Maryport woman meets youths who made life hell from the article in the Times & Star: A Maryport woman has come face-to-face with some of the youths who have turned her life into a living hell for the past seven years. The meeting was part of a new restorative justice programme where offenders meet victims to drive home the consequences of their actions. Julie Messenger, 44, of Ellenborough Old Road, has been the target of anti-social behaviour that has cost her hundreds of pounds and turned her life, and that of her 12-year-old daughter, into a living hell. Long path to redemption: Restorative justice has success stories, but law doesn't require its use from J. Adrian Stanley's article in Colorado Springs Independent: Back in June 2005, [Jonathan] Price was 17 and looking forward to his senior year at Sand Creek High School with his "posse" a tight group of friends, mostly military brats, who had spent their high school years invading each other's houses like family, having sleepovers and playing Halo. When they were younger, they caused the "boys will be boys" brand of trouble stealing bulbs out of porch lights, ringing doorbells and running away. Now they were acting their age more often. One day, Price and buddies Terence Henderson and Marcus (last name not available) decided to head to Price's place. Marcus called shotgun. Henderson insisted on riding on top of the trunk. Price began driving. He rounded a curve and paused at a stop sign. That's when they noticed Henderson was gone. The boy had fallen off the back and hit his head. A day later, he was dead. Boys pay for crime with school chores from Colin's article on Welsh Icons: An incident which occurred at Mynydd Cynffig Infants School, Kenfig Hill in January has been dealt with by means of ‘Restorative Justice’. A storage shed was broken into at the school and property was removed. Following a successful Police investigation four local culprits were apprehended and the stolen property was later returned to the school. After admitting to what they had done and on the request of the school a ‘Restorative Justice’ meeting was held which involving the Police, the school, the boys and their parents. Vermont’s juvenile justice system saves a woman’s life 'Talking stick' helps facilitate restorative justice response to destructive behaviors Courage to repair from the editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: A racist prank perpetrated outside the University of Missouri's Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center 11 days ago has evoked a reassuring response. The two undergraduates — Zachary E. Tucker and Sean D. Fitzgerald — tried to make a mockery of the bitter history of black servitude. They scattered cotton balls outside the culture center under cover of night. But their crude handiwork was greeted with sharp and universal condemnation. Both students were identified and suspended from school. Last week, they were arrested. The Boone County prosecutor is weighing whether to pursue criminal charges. Coffee shop is site of healing Todd C. Frankel's article in St Louis Post-Dispatch: He didn't know what to expect. He was sick with dread. His eyes were bloodshot from crying. Aaron Poisson was returning to the Starbucks where two years earlier his actions had killed another man. He didn't have to be here. He had served his time. Now 21, Poisson spent nine months in jail after pleading guilty of fatally running over Roger Kreutz, a customer trying to stop Poisson as the young man fled this coffee shop off Watson Road with a stolen tip jar containing less than $5. He says he didn't intend to hurt Kreutz, didn't know until days later what he had done. Accompanied by his father, Poisson was headed back to the Starbucks, to a ceremony to spread Kreutz's ashes below a memorial tree planted just yards from the fatal scene. Kreutz's extended family and dozens of friends were there. Poisson feared their anger, the hatred. "But it feels like something I have to do," said Poisson, wearing a sweater and black slacks, as though he were headed to church. "It's something I want to do." Vermont’s juvenile justice teaches kids community can help This is the third of four columns in a series about the nation’s oldest and most mature restorative juvenile justice system. On delivering nuanced messages in a soundbite culture "Trendy 'restorative justice' schemes to stamp out bullying at schools 'do not work'," the headline trumpeted. The article by Laura Clark on Mail Online (the website of the Daily Mail) began in the same vein: "Trendy 'no punishment' approaches to tackling bullying are not working in many schools, a researcher warned yesterday. More than 600 schools use 'restorative justice' techniques which allow bullies to escape punishment if they face their victims and apologise. But a Cambridge University academic told a conference the approach has been 'widely exaggerated' as a remedy for bullying." Possible ABC TV series showing victim-offender encounters from Michele Rosenthal's entry on Heal My PTSD: Last week I got a very interesting call from ABC TV. They’re developing a 20/20 episode or a series based on the subject of restorative justice. I had a long chat with Andrew Sullivan about his expectations for the piece and what they hope to achieve with it. He mentioned that they are actively seeking survivors who would be right for the series; I offered to help him reach out. ....After our conversation Andrew summarized the idea in an email to me. I’m sharing it with you in case any of you would like to follow up with him. Lucey, Terry. A Balanced Approach in Dealing with an Offense The personal story of someone who has worked in a non-restorative justice-oriented area of the criminal justice system and his reflection on the differences between the two approaches. Asking Questions and Speaking the Truth In 2006, Kathy Key's husband was killed on his way home from work when his motorcycle was hit by a car. The driver was arrested for driving drunk. Through a restorative justice programme, Kathy met the man responsible for her husbands death. In this two minute interview with BBC, Kathy explains her reasons for participating in the meeting and what she felt the offender got out of the meeting. Boys made to work at park to compensate for vandalism from the article in Ripley and Heanor News: Three teenagers from Amber Valley have been helping rangers at Shipley Country Park as recompense for damaging a shed in the area. The three boys caused the damage last month and, as punishment for their behaviour, were made to go back to the park and work for a day alongside the rangers. Knife robber meets victim from the article in Lancaster Guardian: A woman who was robbed at knifepoint visited her teenage attacker in prison to receive an apology from him as part of a restorative justice project. Police offered Zoe Harrison the chance to meet Arron Burns, 18, at Lancaster Farms, to help her bring closure to her ordeal. You are forgiven: Family reunites with castaway son From the article in the Solomon Star: “YOU are my son again” was the statement the son and the audience were waiting to hear. George Topou, has been waiting hopelessly to hear that statement from his father’s mouth, and it did emotionally assemble tears in everyone’s eyes, when John Tepala screamed them out loud with tears yesterday. Topou is a prisoner who is the ninth to reconcile with his victim and family members through the Sycamore Tree project. TV captures killer driver's remorse from John cousins' article in Bay of Plenty Times: A trail-breaking television documentary featuring an emotionally harrowing face-to-face meeting between killer driver Kristy King and one of her victim's families will have a strong Tauranga connection. Tauranga restorative justice facilitators Tim Clarke and Sharon Stewart play a pivotal role in the conference which screens tomorrow on TV2's 20/20 programme. A documentary team were there to film the raw emotions of the conference which preceded King's sentencing last month on three charges of careless driving causing death. Next 19 items » [1] 2 Document Actions RSS feed Send this Print this	A long-time repeat offender describes the impact of meeting with his victims.