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Create an apology letter online

November 1, 2009

The website gives this background to the project:

The Story Behind this Program

This website is the result of an email exchange
between Ben Furman and Lorenn Walker. Lorenn initiated contact
with Ben after reading his book “Solution Talk” and the two quickly
realized that they share an interest in combining the principles
of restorative justice
and solution-focused therapy. Lorenn was inspired by the “Sorry
letter” a multilingual computer program designed by Ben
for schools which is located at the Steps of Responsibility website
(see link on the left). Lorenn suggested
that a similar program, which would incorporate
additional features of restorative justice, be offered
for adults. What follows is the brainchild of their cooperation.

Your Participation

When we published this website in October 2009 we decided to
invite our colleagues and other interested
people
to
offer comments and suggestions to continue to
improve the Apology letter. Your highly valued feedack can be addressed
to either of us. We are grateful for all of you who are willing
to contribute to
the further development of this website.

About the Authors

Ben is a psychiatrist and teacher of solution-focused
therapy at Helsinki Brief Therapy Institute in Finland and has
developed together with his colleague Tapani Ahola a constructive
alternative to punishing children and teenagers called “The
Steps of Responsibility” which correlates with the principles
of restorative justice.

Lorenn is a health educator from
the island of O’ahu in Hawai’i. She designs programs using public
health approaches
to help organizations and individuals, including those who have
been hurt by crime, substance abuse, incarceration, and poverty.
She is also an active researcher and trainer in restorative justice,
a lawyer and former deputy attorney general for the state of
Hawai’i.

Check it out.

Tags:

ApologyBlog PostOffenderPrisonsRJ in Schools
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