Triggered by her father’s suicide, Jackie Katounas’ crime career started at age 12.  Graduating from a girl’s home to Auckland Maximum Security Prison by age 16,  Jackie spent the next 20 years in and out of Australian prisons.  Her 138 convictions included drug dealing, armed robbery, and fraud.  

Jackie’s life changed when she returned to New Zealand, and a miracle happened.  She received stolen furniture, only to realize that she knew the victim, a hotel owner who had been very good to her.  Overcome with remorse, she went to the owner, asked for his forgiveness, and offered to get his property back.  Without knowing it, Jackie had begun a journey of forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation.  It led to her involvement in the restorative justice movement.  

Today, her life is unrecognisable when compared to the one she led before.  A faithful member of the Wesleyan church, she worked for five years as a facilitator for the Hawkes’ Bay Restorative Justice Network, based at the Regional Prison.  Jackie has worked with those offenders who express a desire to meet with their victims, and seek forgiveness and reconciliation.  She recently began work with Prison Fellowship New Zealand, as a Project Manager (Restorative Justice).

In 2000, Jackie extended her work, to facilitate the ‘Sycamore Tree’ programme (a surrogate victim offender programme) at Hawkes Bay prison.  She has facilitated seven programmes so far. Jackie now trains other persons in 'Sycamore Tree' project management and facilitation.

Over the last three years, Jackie has become actively involved in the policy and programme development of restorative justice within New Zealand.   She is also an active advocate for prison reform, and while she supports the department’s efforts to introduce restorative justice, is unafraid to speak out about the decline of prison education programmes and the like.  

In 2003, Jackie and her colleague, organised the Second National Conference on Restorative Justice. She also designed a course in Victim Awareness, which she is piloting within the Hawkes Bay Prison.  

In August 2003, Jackie was awarded the Kamil Shehade Award for Restorative Justice, at the Prison Fellowship International Convocation, held in Toronto, Canada.  Jackie was chosen out of 92 nominees to receive this significant award.  

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Our criminal justice system has been failing our communities for too long and it’s time we started looking at alternatives. Restorative justice is not going to cure all our ills, but it is my view that RJ processes offer hope to all those who are prepared to enter into it, not only for victims of crime but also offenders.

As an ex offender I am in a unique position to understand and challenge offending behavior, something that never occurred whilst I was offending.

Also victims of crime have been moved aside in the criminal process, RJ brings them into the heart of the process, they are able to have direct dialogue with the one who has caused them pain and suffering. It has been my experience that RJ processes brings about a very real sense of justice for victims and moves them further on the healing path.

Jackie Katounas

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Reach Jackie Katounas  at  jackkat@paradise.net.nz

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