Oct. 22, 2007
OUR PUBLIC LIFE: It's Time for Restorative Justice
By Craig Hammond
There's a growing social movement that -- if fully implemented -- will dramatically change the way we deal with crime in this country. It's called "Restorative Justice." The present system of punitive justice has resulted in higher rates of recidivism and more prisons. It's clearly not working.
Restorative justice requires an offender to compensate victims, express remorse, perform community service specific to the crime, and take steps toward self-education that can reduce recidivism.
In some places community restorative boards (made up of trained citizens) are established to hold face-to-face meetings with an offender required to attend by a judge's order. At these meetings the board and offender agree on a specific course of action to make reparations for the crime committed. After an agreed upon time period is completed, the board then sends a report to the court on the offender's compliance with the process.
In a world of "Restorative Jusice," focus is on the victim -- not the state. Presently, an offender pays the state in the form of fines or prison time. The victim and the community get little or nothing.
The concept of restorative justice is catching on. Where restorative justice has been tried recidivism rates have dropped to an aveage of about 8 percent compared to the 67 percent of the present system..
Violent and predatory criminals forfeit their right to live among us. But many of them will be released back into the community. Restorative justice principles must be applied in prison as well.
The time has come for a paradigm shift in criminal matters and "Restorative Justice" is what we need to shift to.
Restorative justice is good for the victim, good for the community, good for the offender, and good for our public life.
For more on Restorative Justice visit www.justicefellowship.org and www.restorativejustice.org
Our Public Life, a weekly column by Craig Hammond, former mayor of Bluefield, WV and host of RadioActive, is dedicated to the institutions that enhance our public life.
OUR PUBLIC LIFE: It's Time for Restorative Justice
By Craig Hammond
There's a growing social movement that -- if fully implemented -- will dramatically change the way we deal with crime in this country. It's called "Restorative Justice." The present system of punitive justice has resulted in higher rates of recidivism and more prisons. It's clearly not working.
Restorative justice requires an offender to compensate victims, express remorse, perform community service specific to the crime, and take steps toward self-education that can reduce recidivism.
In some places community restorative boards (made up of trained citizens) are established to hold face-to-face meetings with an offender required to attend by a judge's order. At these meetings the board and offender agree on a specific course of action to make reparations for the crime committed. After an agreed upon time period is completed, the board then sends a report to the court on the offender's compliance with the process.
In a world of "Restorative Jusice," focus is on the victim -- not the state. Presently, an offender pays the state in the form of fines or prison time. The victim and the community get little or nothing.
The concept of restorative justice is catching on. Where restorative justice has been tried recidivism rates have dropped to an aveage of about 8 percent compared to the 67 percent of the present system..
Violent and predatory criminals forfeit their right to live among us. But many of them will be released back into the community. Restorative justice principles must be applied in prison as well.
The time has come for a paradigm shift in criminal matters and "Restorative Justice" is what we need to shift to.
Restorative justice is good for the victim, good for the community, good for the offender, and good for our public life.
For more on Restorative Justice visit www.justicefellowship.org and www.restorativejustice.org
Our Public Life, a weekly column by Craig Hammond, former mayor of Bluefield, WV and host of RadioActive, is dedicated to the institutions that enhance our public life.
