Juveniles

Articles discussing the use of restorative processes with juvenile offenders.

Request for assistance regarding a South African case: from Ann Skelton: Mike Batley and I are currently working on a Constitutional Court case in South Africa in which we are arguing that the civil justice system has not kept pace with developments in the criminal justice system to encourage more restorative justice approaches. The case in point is a civil claim for damages for defamation of character by a school teacher against school pupils who manufactured a naughty (but funny from an adolescent perspective) picture of him by pasting his head on the body of a gay wrestler. The picture was on the school notice board for 30 minutes, and some children in the school also received the image via their cell phones. The children were punished in school (5 detentions + honours colours taken away), were charged criminally and were diverted (they completed 56 hours of community service at the zoo), they attempted to apologise, and have now been successfully sued through the civil justice system to pay damages. They now appeal to the Constitutional Court. Their main arguments have to do with Freedom of expression and 'jest' as a defence, but the Restorative Justice Centre is entering as amicus curiae to make various points about restorative justice.
Vandals repair damage they did: from the article in NewsWales.co.uk: Last November a group of young people caused criminal damage to the Rhydyfelin Children’s Centre in Holly Street, Rhydyfelin, by smashing windows and lights, removing a gas meter cover, and spraying graffiti. Following a successful police investigation five local boys aged 9 to 13 were identified by CCTV and traced. After admitting to what they had done, and at the request of the centre manager, a restorative justice meeting was held with the police, the centre, the boys and their parents. It was agreed that the boys would carry out work at the centre as recompense for their actions.
Highbridge park shooting resolved with 'restorative justice': from Burnham-On-Sea.com: The teenager accused of shooting a boy in the face with a BB gun in a Highbridge park last weekend has been dealt with by means of restorative justice, police said on Thursday (May 27th). The youngster was called into Burnham police station where he met his 10 year-old victim to discuss Saturday's incident in Apex Park near Mallard Place, which was exclusively first reported on Burnham-On-Sea.com here.
Restorative Justice at the UN Crime Congress: I’m in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, representing Prison Fellowship International at the 12th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Later in the week, I will be participating in sessions on restorative justice in prisons and restorative justice in Latin America. So, I was quite interested to hear several references to restorative justice in today’s opening events. I wanted to share some of what was reported and a few of my thoughts.
Youth Justice in Western Australia: from the Executve Summary of the study by Dr Harry Blagg: The aim of this paper is to advance debate about the future of youth justice in Western Australia. The focus is on how we can improve outcomes for the small number of children who are coming into contact with the criminal justice system. It argues that youth justice practice has been allowed to drift over the past decade, principally because of lack of focus on the specific needs of young offenders due to the subordinate status of youth justice within what is essentially an adult focused correctional bureaucracy, and because of waning commitment to the principle of diversion on behalf of the police. These two phenomena are interconnected. Lack of clarity regarding the role of youth justice has led to a decline in the quality of support for children and families at risk, which has, in turn, undermined confidence within the police regarding the benefits of diversion from the system. Diversion is simply about choosing the least intrusive option when dealing with young offenders.
Restorative justice can alter behavior of perpetrators, teach empathy
Wright response to Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: Martin Wright's response to the Independent Commission's consultation paper.
Wright response to Indep Comm on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: Martin Wrights comments in response to a consultation paper released by the Independent Commission.
Response to the (UK) Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: by Martin Wright Note: The Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour was formed in the UK to seek: ...ways to reduce the damage that children and young people who take part in antisocial and criminal acts can cause to victims, to neighbourhoods and to themselves. In inviting views on how this should be done, we acknowledge the emotional and social harm as well as the financial costs that can result from such behaviour. We are looking for ways of responding to youth crime and antisocial behaviour that are more clearly principled, as well as fair, humane and more cost-effective than those presently in place. We anticipate that such a system would not only meet the needs of children, families and the wider community more effectively, but also – through its grounding in agreed principles – prove politically sustainable. Here are portions of Dr. Martin Wright's comments on a consultation paper released by the Commission for discussion. The full document is available below.
Mercy urged for child charged in Jakarta murder: by Ronna Nirmala & Arientha Primanita in the Jakarta Globe: The National Commission for Child Protection on Wednesday said it was working hard to save a 10-year-old boy, suspected of having stabbed and beaten his adoptive mother to death, from serving up to 15 years in jail. East Jakarta Police investigators have said the child, who is originally from Nias and is an orphaned survivor of the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, may face charges for violating the 2004 law on domestic violence.
The Children's Aid Society of New York — A New Start for Disconnected Youth: From the Restorative Practices E-Forum written by Abbey J. Porter and Laura Mirsky of the International Institute of Restorative Practices. Ana Bermudez, director of juvenile justice programs for The Children’s Aid Society of New York City, works with youth from some of the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. When she started with Children’s Aid in 2007, Bermudez knew that a restorative approach would be critical, and she has infused the practices throughout the initiatives she oversees, saying, “I was not going to run any of the programs here without a restorative focus.”
The need for a new kind of justice in youth crime: from Cate Griffiths and Amos Clifford's guest opinion in pressdemocrat.com: As the two leading providers of restorative justice for youth in Sonoma County — Restorative Resources and RECOURSE Mediation Services — we know what works when dealing with youthful offenders, and why. The restorative justice practices used by our non-profit agencies are firmly focused on repairing harm done to people and relationships, rather than imposing a punishment disconnected from the needs of those harmed. Restorative justice gives victims a voice in how they want things to be “made right.” The evidence shows that in communities, including school communities, restorative practices build social capital and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision-making. When there is wrongdoing, everyone affected by the behavior gets to play an active role in addressing the wrong and making things right. This goes far beyond punishment; it makes real, positive change possible.
1,000 children avoid criminal record with apology: from the article in The Herald: More than 1,000 Westcountry children have escaped being given a criminal record through a programme that sees offenders make amends for their actions. Devon and Cornwall Police believe that by adopting a more “flexible” approach to “low-level” crime, including graffiti, shoplifting and some public order offences, they can reduce re-offending rates and stop youngsters going to court unnecessarily. Since the programme’s launch last November, 1,031 first-time young offenders aged between 10 and 17 have written letters to victims, painted over graffiti and paid for stolen goods.
Putting victims at the heart of justice: from Juliet Lyon's column in guardian.co.uk: Promises to put victims at the heart of the justice system sound good but can have a hollow ring. Too often people find themselves lost in a maze of unfamiliar, complex and bureaucratic criminal justice process and procedures. Only to emerge feeling that their account of being harmed has not really been heard or, at least, not properly understood. So a youth justice system which satisfies 90% of crime victims and substantially reduces reoffending rates is well worth looking into.
Chief Judge Evans to receive prestigious award: from Mike Flannery's report on cbs2chicago.com: When Cook County's Chief Judge Timothy Evans is honored at the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday, it will be a landmark moment for the once-disgraced local Circuit Court. ....U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will present Judge Evans with the prestigious William Rehnquist Award. Evans, first elected to the court in 1992 and chief judge for the past eight years, is being honored for integrity and judicial innovation.
Let mana grow: from the post by Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi& Saatchi at KR Connect: New Zealand and the US bear some resemblance as big-time human lock-ups. The US is world leader in incarceration and New Zealand is in the top quartile. New Zealand is the 125th most populated country in the world out of 258, yet the 57th most incarcerated. This gives new meaning to the cliché “punching above our weight.” I outlined three things New Zealand could offer to the US in this area: learnings about our system of restorative justice (with its emphasis on “repairing the harm”), our Maori-Pakeha experience of biculturalism, and an appreciation of the development of mana, that special Maori concept denoting personal bearing, presence, and character.
More on restorative youth justice in Northern Ireland: We received a note from Martin Wright with these additional thoughts on the report from Northern Ireland that was released last week: Northern Ireland seems to be going well, with only three reservations: 1. juveniles only 2. run by the state -- not much community ownership 3. and putting pressure on the community-based programmes (which Harry Mika and Kieran McEvoy have written about) by competing for funding and referrals -- rather like WalMart putting small shopkeepers out of business!
Effects of crime on kids underestimated: from Thabiso Thakali's article on iol.co.za: ...."The significance of this study was to capture unreported cases of crime and victimisation against young people," she said. Leoschut said the study found that different types of crimes led to distinct forms of post-traumatic stress disorder among youths. "A lot of them suffer from psychological stress and become more aggressive after being victimised."
Wright, Martin. 2004. Restorative Justice and the Victim: The English Experiences. Paper to seminar at École Nationale de la Magistrature, Paris, 6-7 May 2004.: The recent history of restorative justice in England and Wales is of small experiments, a renaissance, a takeover by the government, and a struggle by those who believe in the concept to preserve its ideals. I will begin by giving a picture of the most widespread version of restorative justice as it operates in England and Wales at present. I will then say a word about the concept of ‘restorativeness’, and describe the development of restorative justice in England and Wales in the last four decades: compensation, Victim Support, victim/offender mediation, conferencing, and the most recent policy developments. After a word about what restorative justice needs, especially from the victim’s point of view, I will give short case histories to show to how the current version of restorative justice operates for juvenile offenders. Finally I will suggest how it could develop so as to bring the greatest benefits both to victims and to the community. (excerpt)
Pocket money justice works: Youth Restorative Justice, aimed at those between 10 and 17, has been piloted in eight trial areas and proved so successful it is now set to be rolled out nationwide. It reduces the burden on the police and frees up court time.

Next 20 items » [1] 2 3 4 ... 8

Sections

Juveniles

Document Actions

Personal tools


Navigation RJ Office Kinds of Programmes Practice Issues Working Respectfully and Responsively with Victims Restorative Justice in Juvenile Matters Restorative Justice in Schools Programme Administration and Funding Programme Policy Manuals Building Support For Restorative Justice Training Evaluation Real People, Real Stories Programme Examples Kinds of Crimes Accreditation Staying Restorative	Info Juveniles Articles discussing the use of restorative processes with juvenile offenders. Request for assistance regarding a South African case from Ann Skelton: Mike Batley and I are currently working on a Constitutional Court case in South Africa in which we are arguing that the civil justice system has not kept pace with developments in the criminal justice system to encourage more restorative justice approaches. The case in point is a civil claim for damages for defamation of character by a school teacher against school pupils who manufactured a naughty (but funny from an adolescent perspective) picture of him by pasting his head on the body of a gay wrestler. The picture was on the school notice board for 30 minutes, and some children in the school also received the image via their cell phones. The children were punished in school (5 detentions + honours colours taken away), were charged criminally and were diverted (they completed 56 hours of community service at the zoo), they attempted to apologise, and have now been successfully sued through the civil justice system to pay damages. They now appeal to the Constitutional Court. Their main arguments have to do with Freedom of expression and 'jest' as a defence, but the Restorative Justice Centre is entering as amicus curiae to make various points about restorative justice. Vandals repair damage they did from the article in NewsWales.co.uk: Last November a group of young people caused criminal damage to the Rhydyfelin Children’s Centre in Holly Street, Rhydyfelin, by smashing windows and lights, removing a gas meter cover, and spraying graffiti. Following a successful police investigation five local boys aged 9 to 13 were identified by CCTV and traced. After admitting to what they had done, and at the request of the centre manager, a restorative justice meeting was held with the police, the centre, the boys and their parents. It was agreed that the boys would carry out work at the centre as recompense for their actions. Highbridge park shooting resolved with 'restorative justice' from Burnham-On-Sea.com: The teenager accused of shooting a boy in the face with a BB gun in a Highbridge park last weekend has been dealt with by means of restorative justice, police said on Thursday (May 27th). The youngster was called into Burnham police station where he met his 10 year-old victim to discuss Saturday's incident in Apex Park near Mallard Place, which was exclusively first reported on Burnham-On-Sea.com here. Restorative Justice at the UN Crime Congress I’m in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, representing Prison Fellowship International at the 12th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Later in the week, I will be participating in sessions on restorative justice in prisons and restorative justice in Latin America. So, I was quite interested to hear several references to restorative justice in today’s opening events. I wanted to share some of what was reported and a few of my thoughts. Youth Justice in Western Australia from the Executve Summary of the study by Dr Harry Blagg: The aim of this paper is to advance debate about the future of youth justice in Western Australia. The focus is on how we can improve outcomes for the small number of children who are coming into contact with the criminal justice system. It argues that youth justice practice has been allowed to drift over the past decade, principally because of lack of focus on the specific needs of young offenders due to the subordinate status of youth justice within what is essentially an adult focused correctional bureaucracy, and because of waning commitment to the principle of diversion on behalf of the police. These two phenomena are interconnected. Lack of clarity regarding the role of youth justice has led to a decline in the quality of support for children and families at risk, which has, in turn, undermined confidence within the police regarding the benefits of diversion from the system. Diversion is simply about choosing the least intrusive option when dealing with young offenders. Restorative justice can alter behavior of perpetrators, teach empathy Wright response to Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour Martin Wright's response to the Independent Commission's consultation paper. Wright response to Indep Comm on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour Martin Wrights comments in response to a consultation paper released by the Independent Commission. Response to the (UK) Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour by Martin Wright Note: The Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour was formed in the UK to seek: ...ways to reduce the damage that children and young people who take part in antisocial and criminal acts can cause to victims, to neighbourhoods and to themselves. In inviting views on how this should be done, we acknowledge the emotional and social harm as well as the financial costs that can result from such behaviour. We are looking for ways of responding to youth crime and antisocial behaviour that are more clearly principled, as well as fair, humane and more cost-effective than those presently in place. We anticipate that such a system would not only meet the needs of children, families and the wider community more effectively, but also – through its grounding in agreed principles – prove politically sustainable. Here are portions of Dr. Martin Wright's comments on a consultation paper released by the Commission for discussion. The full document is available below. Mercy urged for child charged in Jakarta murder by Ronna Nirmala & Arientha Primanita in the Jakarta Globe: The National Commission for Child Protection on Wednesday said it was working hard to save a 10-year-old boy, suspected of having stabbed and beaten his adoptive mother to death, from serving up to 15 years in jail. East Jakarta Police investigators have said the child, who is originally from Nias and is an orphaned survivor of the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, may face charges for violating the 2004 law on domestic violence. The Children's Aid Society of New York — A New Start for Disconnected Youth From the Restorative Practices E-Forum written by Abbey J. Porter and Laura Mirsky of the International Institute of Restorative Practices. Ana Bermudez, director of juvenile justice programs for The Children’s Aid Society of New York City, works with youth from some of the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. When she started with Children’s Aid in 2007, Bermudez knew that a restorative approach would be critical, and she has infused the practices throughout the initiatives she oversees, saying, “I was not going to run any of the programs here without a restorative focus.” The need for a new kind of justice in youth crime from Cate Griffiths and Amos Clifford's guest opinion in pressdemocrat.com: As the two leading providers of restorative justice for youth in Sonoma County — Restorative Resources and RECOURSE Mediation Services — we know what works when dealing with youthful offenders, and why. The restorative justice practices used by our non-profit agencies are firmly focused on repairing harm done to people and relationships, rather than imposing a punishment disconnected from the needs of those harmed. Restorative justice gives victims a voice in how they want things to be “made right.” The evidence shows that in communities, including school communities, restorative practices build social capital and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision-making. When there is wrongdoing, everyone affected by the behavior gets to play an active role in addressing the wrong and making things right. This goes far beyond punishment; it makes real, positive change possible. 1,000 children avoid criminal record with apology from the article in The Herald: More than 1,000 Westcountry children have escaped being given a criminal record through a programme that sees offenders make amends for their actions. Devon and Cornwall Police believe that by adopting a more “flexible” approach to “low-level” crime, including graffiti, shoplifting and some public order offences, they can reduce re-offending rates and stop youngsters going to court unnecessarily. Since the programme’s launch last November, 1,031 first-time young offenders aged between 10 and 17 have written letters to victims, painted over graffiti and paid for stolen goods. Putting victims at the heart of justice from Juliet Lyon's column in guardian.co.uk: Promises to put victims at the heart of the justice system sound good but can have a hollow ring. Too often people find themselves lost in a maze of unfamiliar, complex and bureaucratic criminal justice process and procedures. Only to emerge feeling that their account of being harmed has not really been heard or, at least, not properly understood. So a youth justice system which satisfies 90% of crime victims and substantially reduces reoffending rates is well worth looking into. Chief Judge Evans to receive prestigious award from Mike Flannery's report on cbs2chicago.com: When Cook County's Chief Judge Timothy Evans is honored at the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday, it will be a landmark moment for the once-disgraced local Circuit Court. ....U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will present Judge Evans with the prestigious William Rehnquist Award. Evans, first elected to the court in 1992 and chief judge for the past eight years, is being honored for integrity and judicial innovation. Let mana grow from the post by Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi& Saatchi at KR Connect: New Zealand and the US bear some resemblance as big-time human lock-ups. The US is world leader in incarceration and New Zealand is in the top quartile. New Zealand is the 125th most populated country in the world out of 258, yet the 57th most incarcerated. This gives new meaning to the cliché “punching above our weight.” I outlined three things New Zealand could offer to the US in this area: learnings about our system of restorative justice (with its emphasis on “repairing the harm”), our Maori-Pakeha experience of biculturalism, and an appreciation of the development of mana, that special Maori concept denoting personal bearing, presence, and character. More on restorative youth justice in Northern Ireland We received a note from Martin Wright with these additional thoughts on the report from Northern Ireland that was released last week: Northern Ireland seems to be going well, with only three reservations: 1. juveniles only 2. run by the state -- not much community ownership 3. and putting pressure on the community-based programmes (which Harry Mika and Kieran McEvoy have written about) by competing for funding and referrals -- rather like WalMart putting small shopkeepers out of business! Effects of crime on kids underestimated from Thabiso Thakali's article on iol.co.za: ...."The significance of this study was to capture unreported cases of crime and victimisation against young people," she said. Leoschut said the study found that different types of crimes led to distinct forms of post-traumatic stress disorder among youths. "A lot of them suffer from psychological stress and become more aggressive after being victimised." Wright, Martin. 2004. Restorative Justice and the Victim: The English Experiences. Paper to seminar at École Nationale de la Magistrature, Paris, 6-7 May 2004. The recent history of restorative justice in England and Wales is of small experiments, a renaissance, a takeover by the government, and a struggle by those who believe in the concept to preserve its ideals. I will begin by giving a picture of the most widespread version of restorative justice as it operates in England and Wales at present. I will then say a word about the concept of ‘restorativeness’, and describe the development of restorative justice in England and Wales in the last four decades: compensation, Victim Support, victim/offender mediation, conferencing, and the most recent policy developments. After a word about what restorative justice needs, especially from the victim’s point of view, I will give short case histories to show to how the current version of restorative justice operates for juvenile offenders. Finally I will suggest how it could develop so as to bring the greatest benefits both to victims and to the community. (excerpt) Pocket money justice works Youth Restorative Justice, aimed at those between 10 and 17, has been piloted in eight trial areas and proved so successful it is now set to be rolled out nationwide. It reduces the burden on the police and frees up court time. Next 20 items » [1] 2 3 4 ... 8 Document Actions RSS feed Send this Print this	Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East North America and Caribbean Pacific Search 9932 publications on restorative justice Recent RJOB Comments Oakland as a RJ city? Jul 29, 2010 Trauma Jul 29, 2010 Psych Reports to BPT board Jul 29, 2010 More… Slide Show: What is Restorative Justice Click to view a slideshow discussing the definition of restorative justice. Jul 21, 2010 Promoting Restorative Justice in Panama Jul 28, 2010 Raising Community Awareness in Swaziland Jul 28, 2010 Exploring alternatives in Finland Jul 28, 2010 PF Rwanda Receives Grant for Reconciliation Work Jun 27, 2010 Restorative Justice in the Community.