Source: (2001) Crime Victims Report 5 (March/April): 1-2, 6.
Phillips outlines the traditional criminal justice response to crime: the crime is against the state, not the victim; victim and offender are kept separate; to a large extent the victim’s needs and interests are ignored; if the accused is found guilty, prison is often the sanction. According to Phillips, restorative justice seeks an alternative in victim-centered justice. Circle sentencing is a restorative justice practice involving those affected by crime: victims; offenders; and community members. Phillips describes key elements of circle sentencing in Travis County (Austin), Texas: participants; eligibility and referring agencies; screening panel; screening process; and the circle-sentencing process itself.
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.
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