In the field of restorative justice and as someone who
works with crime victims there are some expectations of an apology
expressed by an
offender. Let’s look at what an apology
is. Thinking of McGuire as the offender, guilty of using steroids consider
the following:
- An apology must come from the heart.
- An apology is an attempt to make things right (with the
victim/victims).
- An apology reflects a sense of remorse for one’s
actions and conveys that remorse to the victim/victims.
- An apology does not try to whitewash the past (one’s
offenses) but takes responsibility for those actions.
- An apology gives the victim a sense of commitment not to
re-offend in the future.
- An apology often works out an agreement or a contract with
the victim/victims that is meaningful to make things right.
Whoever is rendering an apology especially if that individual
is a high profile “offender” restorative justice applies. Apologies
seem
to come cheap these days. But they shouldn’t. Making things
right after offending just makes sense. Offering an apology whether that be a
public apology or a
private one can have enormous benefits. Apologies can
restore relationships that have been wronged. Apologies between an offender
and crime victim
can lay the groundwork for healing and in some cases
reconciliation.
So how did Mark McGuire do? Maybe McGuire could have
benefited from knowing something about restorative justice. What do you think?