Source: (2005) Journal of Criminal Justice Education. 16(2): 328-339.
This paper describes a course taught in restorative justice during fall semester
2003. The objective of this semester-long class was to offer a unique educational
experience to incarcerated youth and traditional college students. Youth
from a correctional facility traveled to campus once a week to participate in the
class. The theory and practices of restorative justice provided the foundation
for the content of the course. Restorative justice, one of many correctional
ideologies, seeks to repair the harm caused by crime, mend the relationship
between the community and offenders, and attempts to reintegrate the youth
back into society. As such, the course itself was an attempt to practice restorative
justice principles by strengthening the damaged relationship between
offenders and the community. Using qualitative data, the paper examines the
impact of the course on court-involved youth and the college students, and
provides a detailed description of the course itself. Problems and issues are also
discussed to facilitate replication of the class. Author’s abstract.
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
Donate Now