Restorative Justice:Restorative Justice:Processes and PracticesProcesses and Practices

Navajo PeacemakingNavajo Peacemaking

Formal community response to help Formal community response to help people in needpeople in need

Respond to need and understand Respond to need and understand why people harm others why people harm others Disconnected from the world around Disconnected from the world around

themthem Help people reconnect with people Help people reconnect with people

Navajo PeacemakingNavajo Peacemaking

Achieve peace by talking things outAchieve peace by talking things out

Peacemaker Peacemaker Listens to disputeListens to dispute Agree on a practical solutionAgree on a practical solution

Two values:Two values: k’e = solidarityk’e = solidarity k’ei = connectedness to othersk’ei = connectedness to others

Conferencing - New Zealand Conferencing - New Zealand ModelModel

Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Justice Family group conferenceFamily group conference

Family/ community members play a big roleFamily/ community members play a big role

Central beliefs:Central beliefs: Making decisionsMaking decisions Family as a positive forceFamily as a positive force Restorative response vs. Retributive Restorative response vs. Retributive

responseresponse

Conferencing - New Zealand Conferencing - New Zealand ModelModel

Youth justice coordinatorYouth justice coordinator

Who attends:Who attends: Person who did the harmPerson who did the harm VictimVictim Police representative (“prosecutor”)Police representative (“prosecutor”)

Decision making process to make things Decision making process to make things “right”“right” Come to a consensus on outcomeCome to a consensus on outcome

Conferencing – Wagga ModelConferencing – Wagga Model(Australia)(Australia)

Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Justice How to best respond to harmHow to best respond to harm

Difference:Difference: Is run by police or school officialIs run by police or school official Given opportunity to participateGiven opportunity to participate

Conferencing – Wagga ModelConferencing – Wagga Model(Australia)(Australia)

More offender focusedMore offender focused Asked about offense/feelingsAsked about offense/feelings

Harmed personHarmed person Asked about how it affected themAsked about how it affected them Asked what they want outcome to beAsked what they want outcome to be

Written agreement reached in 60 – 90 Written agreement reached in 60 – 90 minutes and is usually a consensusminutes and is usually a consensus

Community Sentencing CirclesCommunity Sentencing Circles(Canada)(Canada)

Respected member of societyRespected member of society Chairs in a circleChairs in a circle

Talk about:Talk about: Extent of crimesExtent of crimes Cause of crimesCause of crimes Impact Impact What can preventWhat can prevent What can help offender/victim/communityWhat can help offender/victim/community Sentence planSentence plan

Victim-Offender Reconciliation Victim-Offender Reconciliation Process (VORP)Process (VORP)

Most widely known restorative justice Most widely known restorative justice program in North Americaprogram in North America

Reconciliation programs:Reconciliation programs: Meet with the person harmedMeet with the person harmed Tell storiesTell stories Heal, reconcileHeal, reconcile Bring closureBring closure

Restorative Justice Restorative Justice Programs in Lee CountyPrograms in Lee County

Victim Offender Conference Victim Offender Conference Program (2001)Program (2001)

Letter and questionnaire sent to victim Letter and questionnaire sent to victim Interested victims are contactedInterested victims are contacted Program is explainedProgram is explained

Offender is contactedOffender is contacted Necessary PaperworkNecessary Paperwork Set up day/time for conferenceSet up day/time for conference Eligibility of Juveniles Eligibility of Juveniles

Victim Restitution / Community Victim Restitution / Community Service Program Service Program

Community ServiceCommunity Service Earn credit to pay restitution to their Earn credit to pay restitution to their

victimsvictims $5/hr, Maximum of $200.00 $5/hr, Maximum of $200.00

Failure to complete serviceFailure to complete service Violation will be filedViolation will be filed Ordered to pay back Ordered to pay back

Other Programs in Dixon Other Programs in Dixon

Mural Project (2007/2008)Mural Project (2007/2008) 3 area artists work with youth3 area artists work with youth Paint Mural on the Wall in Probation Paint Mural on the Wall in Probation

Dixon Police Department Peer Jury Dixon Police Department Peer Jury (2007)(2007) Under developmentUnder development

Does Restorative Justice Does Restorative Justice Work?Work?

Coerced vs. VolunteeringCoerced vs. Volunteering Remorse for actionRemorse for action ApologiesApologies Type of offenseType of offense Fear of offenderFear of offender

ReintegrationReintegration

Difficult to reintegrateDifficult to reintegrate StigmatizationStigmatization

Bad neighborhoodsBad neighborhoods No solidarity/supportNo solidarity/support

Limited opportunity Limited opportunity