Balanced and Restorative Justice

Source: (2001) US Dept of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

This 2-hour U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funded videoconference held in 2001 reviewed the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Model that outlined an alternative philosophy, restorative justice, and a new mission, “the balanced approach” requiring juvenile justice professionals to devote attention to: (1) enabling offenders to make amends to their victims and community; (2) increasing offender competencies so that they become competent, caring individuals, who can pursue crime free, productive lives; and (3) protecting the public through processes where individual victims, the community, and offenders are all active participants. BARJ builds on existing programs and practices, such as victim-offender mediation, family group conferencing, community service, restitution, and work experience. In better understanding this model, the telecast examined and explored three metropolitan communities that had implemented the BARJ Model within their respective justice systems; Community Intensive Supervision Program (CISP) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Washington County Community Justice and BIHA Women in Action Peacemaking Circles in Minnesota; and the Colorado Forum and Community and Restorative Justice in Denver. The BARJ Model responded to many issues raised by the victims’ movement, including concerns that victims had little input into the resolution of their own cases, rarely felt heard, and often received no restitution or expression of remorse from the offender. The Model was seen as a vision for the future of juvenile justice built on current innovative practices and based on core community values.