Victim Awareness and Empathy Programmes

Articles concerning the use of victim panels, meetings with surrogate victims and victim awareness classes to lead prisoners to consider the effects of their behaviour on their victims.

Lisa Rea: Speaking about victims-driven restorative justice at a California prison during Victim Awareness Week

You always learn something when you speak on restorative justice at a prison. This experience was no different. During the week in California called “Victims Awareness Week” I was invited to speak in prison on restorative justice. I brought Cheryl Ward-Kaiser, victim of violent crime and a champion in California for victims-driven restorative justice since the 1990’s. We were a tag team that day which made our presentation all the more powerful. Although the events planned for the week were to teach about victim awareness, few victims of crime were coming to the prison.

Bohland, Charlyn. 2008. Restorative Justice: A New Approach to Battling Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Honors Senior Research Project. University of Akron.

The reality of driving under the influence (DUI) is sobering. Over 17,000 people die each year as a result of preventable alcohol-related crashes. While 1.4 million people are arrested for DUI, there are nearly 159 million others who self-confess to DUI each year. Within three years of being arrested, three-fourths of offenders will be rearrested for DUI. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the predictable failure of current criminal justice standards, and the hope and promise of a new wave of justice – restorative. Restorative justice focuses on healing the injustice of the crime through direct person-to-person interaction in several different ways –community reparative boards, family conferences, mediations, and victim impact panels. Research is based on a relatively current compilation of national and international studies regarding DUI cases, criminal justice standards, and restorative justice initiatives. Finally, and most importantly, this project presents an adaptable model for dealing with drunken driving offenders, both first-time and repeat offenders, using restorative measures as an effective means of curbing the number of deaths, decreasing recidivism rates, and drastically reducing the number of DUI cases, all while restoring the victim, offender, and community to its original state before DUI tragedies occur.

Workman, Kim. The Future of Restorative Justice – Control, Co-option, and Co-operation

This paper explores the history of restorative justice in New Zealand and lays out a course for the future.

Allen, Jennifer Marie. The construction and transformation of the victim identity in victim impact panels

This study was designed to address the questions of (1) why victims participate in victim/offender rehabilitative programs, in particular victim impact panels, and (2) what issues victims attempt to address after their victimizations and whether victim impact panels serve as a means of addressing these issues. Qualitative research methods in the form of one-on-one interviews with victims of crime involved with victim impact panels were used to gather the information needed to answer the research questions. The subjects were recruited from four victim impact panel programs in the states of Illinois and Missouri. A total of 18 subjects were interviewed. The findings revealed that victims participated in victim impact panel programs because of restorative justice, psychological effects, stigma, religion, and for personal gratification. The victims also reported that they felt stigmatized by the criminal justice system and by significant others. Many of them faced self-blame, guilt, and embarrassment at their role in causing the criminal act. The data also revealed that victims had an increased fear of crime and feelings of dissatisfaction in the justice provided by the criminal justice system after the criminal incident. Lastly, evidence revealed that victims of crime used victim impact panels to abate the issues they faced with regard to stigma and fear of revictimization. Unfortunately, the findings did not demonstrate that victims were able to lessen the issue of inadequate justice by participating in the victim impact panel program. (author's abstract)

Wootton, Lindy and Liebmann, Marian. Restorative justice in Bristol prison.

This workshop briefly outlines the work of the HMP Bristol Restorative Justice Project, with particular focus on the issues raised by work in prisons. The HMP Bristol Restorative Justice Project (RJP) was a year-long pilot project that ran from April 2003 until March 2004. At the time HMP Bristol was a Category A (the most secure rating) local prison for men. The RJP employed one member of staff, and its remit was to: • Introduce the principles of restorative justice to the prison, in collaboration with community agencies. • To deliver an ‘enhanced’ victim contact service. • To design and implement victim impact group work programmes and individual work with prisoners. (excerpt)

Toews, Barb. A Body in Motion.

A Body in Motion is a play that was prisoner requested in the State Correctional Institution at Graterford, one of Pennsylvania’s largest prisons. Prisoners familiar with Howard Zehr’s book, Transcending: Reflections of Crime Victims, asked the Pennsylvania Prison Society and its Restorative Justice Program to bring the play to their prison. This expanded to a tour of eight state prisons and seven community-based sites in April and May 2004. Through project goals, partnership and process, and audience care, the tour offered a new application of these restorative elements. This article focuses primarily on the prison aspects of the play tour.

Editor. Sycamore Tree programme: ‘a journey for them all’

A community-based restorative justice programme that involves groups of crime victims meeting with groups of offenders is to be introduced to prisons in Palmerston North, Wanganui and Invercargill over the next six months. The Sycamore Tree programme, run by the Prison Fellowship of New Zealand, has been operating successfully at Hawke's Bay Prison for the last three years.'We've had glowing feedback from our participants,' says Jackie Katounas, who has been facilitating the programme in Hastings. The Department of Corrections is funding an extension of the programme into Manawatu Prison from August, Wanganui Prison from September, and Invercargill Prison from November. The voluntary programme involves groups of six inmates and six victims of unrelated crimes coming together for eight two-hour sessions. (excerpt)

Crew, Benjamin Keith and Johnson, Sarah Emily. Do victim impact programs reduce recidivism for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated? Findings from an outcomes evaluation.

In victim impact panels, persons convicted of driving while intoxicated are confronted by survivors of accidents caused by drunk drivers. The objective is to reduce the number of subsequent convictions by increasing empathy with victims and increasing awareness of the seriousness of the consequences of drinking and driving. Participation in a victim impact course was not found to consistently reduce reoffending in a sample of persons convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. More specifically, program participants were just as likely to reoffend as non-participants and sometimes more likely. (author's abstract)

Anonymous. 'Profound Impact on Inmates'

This article introduces the Sycamore Tree community-based restorative justice programme of Prison Fellowship of New Zealand, which will be started at the Waikeria and Auckland prisons. The programme is organized by Christians and begins with offenders who volunteer to participate in the sessions. It has four objectives--reconciliation, reparation, transformation, and a reduction in reoffending--and can lead to prisoners dealing with other surrounding issues. The celebration meal also affords prison management personnel an opportunity to involve families and victims in rehabilitation.

Anonymous. Genuine Remorse.

This short article outlines the personal story of a former offender now working with a community based restorative justice initiative. Jackie Katounas has had 138 convictions and spent 12 years in prison, and now works for the Hawkes Bay Restorative Justice Te Puna Wai Ora Inc. in New Zealand. In the first 13 months of work on the Whakatikatika Prison Project, Jackie has raised awareness of restorative justice with offenders already in prison, and she has facilitated 15 conferences with victims. Includes examples of serial offenders for whom restorative justice experience has brought a positive outlook to their lives.

Davis, Michael. Victim awareness: A model of problem-solving justice.

In 1996, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) implemented a program to help offenders understand the negative impact of their crimes on victims. The Victim Awareness Program is based on the Impact of Crime on Victims Program developed in 1984 by the California Youth Authority and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In Ohio, the program’s curriculum addresses several crime types, including drunk driving, property offenses, family violence, sexual assault, and homicide. Other curriculum topics include restorative justice practices, the impact of violence in the media, making amends, and offender reentry. The common thread running throughout the program is the concept of offender responsibility and accountability for behaviors and actions. The program utilizes cognitive-behavioral exercises and experientially based instruction. A crucial element is the personal testimony of victims of crime. (excerpt)

Criminal Justice Joint Inspection. Facing up to offending: Use the restorative justice in the criminal justice system.

The aim of this review was to identify the benefits of restorative justice practices across the criminal justice system. It was a joint inspection, carried out by Her Majesty‟s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), Her Majesty‟s Inspectorate of Probation (HMI Probation), Her Majesty‟s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and Her Majesty‟s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP). Fieldwork comprised an inspection of police forces, probation trusts and youth offending teams (YOTs) in six criminal justice areas: Sussex, Norfolk, Merseyside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester and North Wales. In each area we interviewed staff, victims and offenders, held focus groups with the public, and examined a sample of case records. We also inspected three custodial establishments: one adult male prison (HMP Gloucester), one young offender institution (YOI) holding 18 to 25-year-old males (HMYOI Thorn Cross), and one children and young people‟s establishment holding 15 to 18-year-old males (HMYOI Hindley). A complete methodology is at Annex B. (excerpt)

Williams, Brian. European Perspectives on the Evaluation of Restorative Justice: Empathy, Offending and Attitudes, A Promising New Avenue for Research?

A distinction needs to be made between perspective-taking and empathy; it is suggested that there is a continuum between intellectualising about other's feelings, responding compassionately to them and actively communicating with them. It is concluded that practitioner involvement in the design of future research on this topic should help avoid further confusion.

Negrea, Vidia. Restorative practices in Hungary: An ex-prisoner is reintegrated into the community.

As the representative of Community Service Foundation of Hungary, the Hungarian affiliate of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP), I participated in a group session of the Hungarian Crime Prevention and Prison Mission Foundation in summer 2009 (Sycamore Tree Project — www.pfi.org/cjr/stp/introduction — or Zacchaeus Program in Hungary). There I met the governor of Balassagyarmat prison, where inmates were working in groups on issues related to their crimes and exploring ways to repair relationships they had damaged. Some inmates began accepting responsibility for what they had done and were motivated to make things right and earn forgiveness of victims and their families. Prisoners made symbolic reparation in the form of community service within the prison, but there was still a lot to do to create opportunities for offenders to make contact with victims and shed the stigma of their offense by means of direct reparation. Also, prison management believed it important to support processes,acceptable to victimized families and communities, to help prisoners regain control of their lives and prevent reoffending.(excerpt)

Mason, Anne. Meeting the people behind the statistics: Victim awareness is carving out impressive results for Sycamore Tree’s women offenders.

Women offenders are working together with the victims of crime in a major drive toward restorative justice. Since October 2000, almost 800 women have participated in Prison Fellowship’s victim awareness programme, Sycamore Tree. (excerpt)

Aldington, Clair and Wallis, Peter and Liebmann, Marian. "What have I done?" A victim empathy programme for young people.

What have I done? is a programme to encourage empathy in young people who have committed a specific crime or hurt others through their actions. It challenges the young person to face the harm they have caused and consider what they can do to help put things right. The resource is flexible and interactive, can be used on a one-to-one basis with small groups, and is suitable for those working with young people from different ages and levels of literacy. The exercises are challenging and engaging, employing creative arts, film, role play and discussion. Clear guidance is provided for the facilitator, including timetables, a list of equipment required for each exercise and instructions on how to work through each activity. The resource is accompanied by photocopiable handouts and a DVD featuring interviews with young people who have hurt others, as well as people who have been hurt by crime, to help stimulate discussion and understanding. (publisher's description)

Stern, Vivien. Restorative Practices in Prison - A Review of the Literature

Stern notes that the literature on restorative justice is wide ranging, but that certain common principles emerge. These include the focus on the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, satisfaction for the victim within a framework of reconciliation and forgiveness, and accountability and restoration for the offender. Also, restorative justice is increasingly being brought to bear on imprisonment itself. The application of restorative justice principles in prison is seen as having several elements: offender awareness of the impact on the victim; restorative activities in prison; restorative principles and processes for conflict resolution in prison; and community relationships for reintegration of released offenders. In this paper, Stern summarizes and analyzes literature on restorative efforts in prisons concerning victims and the impact crime has on them.

Sprang, Ginny. Victim Impact Panels: An Examination of the Effectiveness of This Program on Lowering Recidivism and Changing Offenders' Attitudes About Drinking and Driving

This study examines 103 Victim Impact Panel attendees and 75 comparison group respondents who had been convicted of drunk driving offenses. A pre- and post-test measure developed by the author was administered to both groups to determine offender attitudes about drinking and driving. Results indicate a lower recidivism rate in VIP participants as opposed to comparison group subjects and those receiving other sanctions as cited in the literature. 2-Way ANOVA and paired T-test analysis revealed significant changes in attitudes regarding the VIP attendees intention to continue drinking and driving, the consideration of consequences and whether or not DUI/DWI should be considered a crime and recidivism. These results did not hold true for the comparison group. There were no demonstrated significant differences in attitudes toward the fairness of DUI/DWI laws, the accidental nature of drunk driving offenses or the advisability of DWI education as an alternative sanction in either group.

Rojek, Dean G and Fors, Stuart W. The Effect of Victim Impact Panels on DUI/DWI Rearrest Rates: A Twelve-Month Follow-Up

Objective: Various interventions have been implemented as components of sentencing for driving under the influence of alcohol. This study assessed the effectiveness of the Victim Impact Panel (VIP) in reducing the probability of an offender being rearrested for drinking and driving. Method: The study was conducted in an urban/suburban county in the Southeastern United States. Rearrest rates of DUI offenders who attended a VIP presentation as part of their sentencing (n = 404) were compared with an equivalent comparison group (n = 431) who did not have the VIP presentation. Arrest records of offenders were searched and rearrest rates (%) were calculated for the periods 0-6 months, 7-12 months, and 0-12 months after the arrest. Results: Chi-square cross-tabulations indicate that rearrest rates were lower for the VIP group than the comparison group in all categories. Three categories where the differences were significant and of the greatest magnitude were white men, ages 26-35 years, and one prior DUI arrest. Additionally, logistic regression was used to compare the importance of specific independent variables on rearrest. Whether or not a subject was in the VIP group was the most powerful contributor to the results. Conclusions: After considering alternative explanations for the results, we conclude that the VIPs can be a cost-effective way of reducing the probability of rearrest in DUI offenders. When costs of DUI in human misery and dollars are considered, the potential benefits of large-scale implementation of VIP programs appear to be well worth the effort.

Walker, Peter. Saying sorry, acting sorry: The Sycamore Tree Project, a model for restorative justice in prison

Peter Walker examines a project that assists offenders in not only saying they are sorry for their offense, but in doing something to demonstrate their remorse: restitution. The Sycamore Tree Project, developed by Prison Fellowship International, is a program for inmates to assist them in taking responsibility for their actions, from remorse to restitution. Using as an example the pilot at a prison in the United Kingdom, Walker explains the content and operation of the Sycamore Tree Project. A summary of the program’s outcomes is included in the article.