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Mainstreaming Family Group Conferencing: Building and Sustaining Partnerships

Pennell, Joan
June 4, 2015

Source: (1999) Paper presented at the Building Strong Partnerships for Restorative Practices conference, Burlington, Vermont, 5-7 August 1999. Downloaded 8 June 2004.

The search for alternatives to conventional forms of criminal justice has yielded a rich array of frameworks, known today by such terms as restorative justice, transformative justice, and peacemaking criminology. Although these paradigms may appear idealistic in their aspirations, they have been connected with specific practices for their realization. Among their current practices is a model referred to as family group conferencing. Family group conferencing has emerged out of traditional practices, faith-based initiatives, and emancipatory social movements. Pennell considers the difficulties in mainstreaming family group conferencing and proposes a partnership approach for respecting the integrity of its philosophy and practice. Her understanding of this partnership approach is guided by the notion of “concern,â€? a notion based in the Society of Friends (Quaker).

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