Victim Assistance

A primary principle of restorative justice is that crime causes injuries and justice should repair those. Victim assistance is a way of both limiting and beginning to repair those injuries. These articles and resources concern efforts to offer support and assistance to crime victims.

Abuse forum must have 'emphasis on restorative justice' say MSPs

from the article on STV News: A plan to offer child abuse victims a forum to relive their experiences must be accompanied by an emphasis on achieving justice for survivors, a committee of MSPs has concluded. The Scottish Government wants to establish a National Confidential Forum (NCF) to "provide an opportunity for adults who were placed in institutional care as children to recount their experiences in a confidential, non-judgemental and supportive setting".

Building on the One Fund: Victim centered restorative justice for survivors of violent crime

from the entry by Noam Schimmel on Huffington Post: In an outpouring of support, millions of dollars have been raised to help support victims of the Boston marathon attacks and their families. To date, more than 32 million dollars have been raised from individuals, foundations, and corporations by The One Fund.... Victim centered restorative justice - such as that provided by the One Fund - seeks to provide maximal support and rehabilitation to victims of crime.

Restorative justice: Re-storying what happened in Boston

from the entry by Pierre R. Berastain on Huffingtonpost.com: ....We have seen some coverage of restorative practices as an alternative model to responding to conflict, particularly in the criminal justice system and with students who misbehave. In essence, the restorative process invites us to sit in circle, and, as a community affected by crime, determine how to best meet the needs of those involved. Restorative justice rejects one-size-fits-all models and prefers creative processes to conflict resolution.

More meditations on restorative justice

from the entry by kario on The Writing Life: ….It wasn't until I saw my molester as a human being that I began to heal my own profound wounds. I spent years in therapy, took lots of different anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, started yoga, and came to a better place, but the REAL freedom from pain came when I forgave him. Not in person (I don't honestly even know if he is alive today), but in my heart. That doesn't mean that I don't still feel the impact of his behavior in my life and it doesn't mean I would have the courage to meet him face-to-face if I had the opportunity, although I hope I would. It means that I acknowledge that he made a big mistake and, as a human being, he was entitled to do that. It doesn't mean that he is absolved of any wrongdoing, especially since I suspect he molested lots of other children as well, but it means that I don't feel as though I can pass judgment on him and his life. I certainly don't believe he deserves to be killed for his actions, although I did for many, many years.

The healing potential in Circle, life after death and the wisdom of lived experience

from Kris Miner's entry in Restorative Justice and Circles: ....As part of Restorative Response, a program of SCVRJP, the community can request a Circle. Restorative Response is a program to address healing after un-natural death. For example homicide, suicide, traffic fatality, drug-overdose, accidents that might cause a sudden, unexpected loss. Reseach & training has taught us that un-natural death includes additional elements to process. This includes 3 “V’s”, the violence, violation and volition. By speaking and listening to one another in Circle, you can begin to let the process of talking about these 3 “V’s”. I’ve been amazed at these ‘life after death’ Circles. Hearing each others stories, reduces isolation, increases understanding and promotes peace of heart. I firmly believe: Circles Heal.

Law professor says ‘restorative justice’ can heal

from the article by Kieth Upchurch in the Herald Sun: To illustrate how communication can make a profound difference in people’s lives, Powell showed a video of interviews with a young couple whose home was broken into while they were gone and the two teens who did it. Through mediation, the boys said they came to realize how deeply they hurt the couple, who suffered anger and fear after the break-in. In turn, the couple said talking face-to-face helped them to understand the boys’ actions, and they eventually forgave them.

juvenile lifers & restorative justice

I agree with Jennifer Bishop Jenkins. Restorative justice is all about crime victims. Its very definition is victims-centered and we believe victims-driven. The challenge, as [...]

There should be no question of "common ground" - Restorative Justice IS about victims

Thanks to Mr. Lash for this positive article, and of course these are nice words for us to hear. What is lacking from most advocates [...]

Victims’ rights and restorative justice: Is there a common ground?

from the article by John Lash on Juvenile Justice Information Exchange: Last week my column on the resentencing of juveniles who had received life without parole drew a comment from the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers (NOVJL). The commenter had a legal argument in opposition to my own view, but more striking, at least to me, was the sentence that asked how I am going to, “support, inform, and not re-traumatize the devastated victims’ families left behind in these horrible crimes.”

gun violence & restorative justice

Thank you for your comments. I cannot speak for Nick and Amanda Wilcox whose daughter, Laura, was killed by a mentally ill man but I [...]

Laura's Law

Lisa and others, as a current student of Criminal Justice it has been my belief all along that our justice system has left behind the [...]

Christina

I’m sorry for your pain Christina, may you find strength to overcome.

hmmm

@Laura All I know, is I believe in restorative justice with all my heart but as a survivor of childhood sexual assault and rape as [...]

Was my father a monster ???

 My father Robert Power, whom I have only exchanged about 10-15 letters with since I found out who the man that I spent my whole [...]

Moving beyond sides: The power and potential of a new public safety policy paradigm

from the executive summary by David Rogers and Kerry Naughton: Many factors have shaped state and federal public safety policies in the United States over the past twenty-five years. The most notable influence has been the widespread adoption of a tough on crime philosophy. While there is now a wealth of research that shows that tough on crime policies are not the most effective approach to public safety and actually create a serious opportunity-cost for reducing crime and victimization, the tough on crime philosophy has become part of the political and public consciousness across the United States.

Response to Laura Leah's comment

I'm sorry but you are ignorant. I was sexually abused as a child, by a close relative, and although I forgave him, that does not [...]

Victims: never too late for restorative justice

Responding to Manny's comments, in my work with victims of violent crime I have learned that it is never too late for victims to take [...]

Victims

I believe RJ is the way but in this case I believe it would be hard for the victims to get closure or their needs [...]

Standing Committee

from Wilma Derksen's entry on Bittersweet: I am meeting with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights this morning. This is what I will be saying. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to have this opportunity to address you and the rest of the committee regarding Bill C-10, The Safe Streets & Community Act. ....My daughter, Candace, was 13 years old when she was abducted and found murdered six weeks later. We lived without knowing the details of what happened for two decades.

Penn state: holding offenders accountable

Laura, I understand your comments. I, too, am a person of faith which is why I am passionate about restorative justice. However, in the cases [...]