Restorative justice gets boost with new spending
from the article on Radio New Zealand News:
The Government is to spend more on restorative justice conferences: $4 million of new spending over two years has been earmarked in the Budget.
The Government at present funds about 2000 restorative justice conferences each year at a cost of about $2.1 million.
May 23, 2013 Region: Pacific, Support, Country:New Zealand, Policy, Politics
Joy in the dirty work of restorative justice
from the entry by John Lash on Juvenile Justice Information Exchange:
....The tension between the study of a topic and the subsequent conversion of ideas into actual work exists in all endeavors, something I have been thinking about as I prepare a training weekend for people interested in learning about restorative justice.
There is a purity in theory, a beauty reminiscent of the idealism of Plato and Pythagoras, that is fun to engage. Working in this realm is a kind of game, fun, yet ultimately empty without the willingness to get out in the world and get dirty. In a training environment we seek to balance this tension in a way that honors both aspects of reality. We want to transmit the underlying principles while also showing how things “really” work.
May 22, 2013 Process, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA, Community
Rape victim 're-victimised' by system
from the article by Joelle Dally for The Press:
It took Helena Watson more than three decades to speak out about her father's sexual abuse.
Now the Christchurch woman says she has been revictimised by restorative justice.
May 21, 2013 Case:Abuse, Region: Pacific, Country:New Zealand, Case:Sexual, Policy
An inventory and examination of restorative justice practices for youth in Illinois
from the report prepared by Kimberly S. Burke for Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority:
....Key findings include:
- Respondents reporting using restorative justice practices were found in 54 Illinois counties, and in many different types of organizations who respond to youth misconduct, including police departments, probation and court services, schools, community-based organizations, and other state and municipal departments.
May 20, 2013 Practice, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA
The promises and pitfalls of restorative justice for intimate partner violence
from the article by Anne Hayden in Internet Journal of Restorative Justice:
This research article highlights the views of victims, perpetrators and key informants regarding RJ practice in IPV [Intimate Partner Violence] cases. Most of their opinions differ considerably from the opponents of using RJ for IPV.
By focusing on issues of safety, frequently a cited contraindication against RJ, this research makes it clear that movement is necessary by both RJ practitioners to develop improved processes and for relevant stakeholders to take a more open-minded approach to using RJ for IPV in appropriate cases.
May 17, 2013 Case:Domestic Violence, Evaluation, Research
Restorative justice: What's old is new again
from the article by Matthew T. Mangino in the Canton Daily Ledger:
....One alternative gaining traction is Restorative Justice (RJ). RJ is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished when the parties meet face-to-face to establish a plan of accountability and reconciliation. A meaningful RJ effort can transform people, relationships and communities.
RJ views criminal acts more comprehensively-rather than defining crime simply as law breaking; it recognizes that offenders harm victims, communities and even themselves.
May 16, 2013 Definition, Theory
Center for Restorative Justice braces for changes to marijuana law
from the article by Keith Whitcomb, Jr. for the Bennington Banner News:
With the state likely to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana this summer, the local nonprofit that handles court diversion cases is preparing for the changes....
Cipriano said decriminalization is not legalization, a distinction she fears may be lost on some young people as well as adults. Those caught with less than an ounce of marijuana who are 21 and over will face a civil fine, but for those between the ages of 16 and 20 the penalty is expected to be similar to an underage drinking offense.
May 15, 2013 Region: North America and Caribbean, Court, Case:Drug Crimes, Country:USA
Fresno Unified approves restorative justice program
from the article by Linda Mumma for ABC30:
After three years of working with the district -- members of the youth advocacy group "Students United to Create A Climate of Engagement, Support and Safety" -- got the outcome they were looking for.
Fresno Unified School Board Member Carol Mills said, "This board hereby adopts this resolution to create and implement a school discipline framework of restorative practices."
May 14, 2013 Policy, School, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA
Empowered Victims & Moral Perpetrators: A Needs-Based Model of Reconciliation
from the entry by Christine Webb on Mediate.com:
At a recent workshop at Leiden University on Obstacles and Catalysts for Peaceful Behavior, Nurit Shnabel presented exciting research distinguishing the needs of victims and perpetrators in interpersonal and intergroup conflicts. According to Shnabel and colleagues’ Needs-Based Model of Reconciliation, victims of conflict experience a psychological loss of status and honor, thus undermining their identities as powerful actors. Perpetrators, on the other hand, experience a psychological loss of social acceptance, thus threatening their identities as moral actors. Accordingly, victims and perpetrators are differentially motivated to restore these respective identities, and interactions that do so will increase their willingness to reconcile....
An Outcome Evaluation of Minnesota Circles of Support and Accountability (MnCoSA)
from the study by the Minnesota Department of Corrections:
....The use of the COSA model with high-risk sex offenders began in a small Mennonite community in Canada in the early 1990s. Grounded in the tenets of the restorative justice philosophy, the COSA model attempts to help sex offenders successfully reenter http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/9-12MnCOSAResearchinBrief.pdfthe community and, thus, increase public safety, by providing them with social support as they try to meet their employment, housing, treatment, and other social needs. Each COSA consists of anywhere between four and six community volunteers, one of whom is a primary volunteer, who meet with the offender on a regular basis. The results from several evaluations of the Canadian COSA model suggest it significantly reduces sex offender recidivism....
May 10, 2013 Case:Abuse, Offender, Reentry, Practice, Community, Region: North America and Caribbean, Case:Sexual, Policy, Circle, Country:USA
