Restoring Community: The Process of Circle Sentencing.

Source: (1997) Paper presented at “Justice without Violence: Views from Peacemaking, Criminology, and Restorative Justice,” June 6, 1997.

This paper presents the peacemaking or sentencing circle as a community directed process, in partnership with the criminal justice system, for developing consensus on an appropriate sentencing plan which addresses the concerns of all interested parties. Peacemaking circles use traditional circle ritual and structure to create a respectful space in which all interested community members, victim, victim supporters, offender, offender supporters, judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, police and court workers can speak from the heart in a shared search for understanding of the event and to identify the steps necessary to assist in healing all affected parties and prevent future occurrences.