Working with Judges to Affect Change in the Criminal Justice System.

Source: (2005) VOMA Connections. Winter 2005-2006(22): 13-16.

Advocates of a restorative approach
are often intimidated by judges. That
intimidation can lead them to confront
judges with the weaknesses of the traditional
criminal justice process, or
present restorative justice concepts in
language to which it is difficult for
judges to relate, or avoid talking to
judges at all. These approaches are
not effective, and can create barriers
that alienate judges from restorative
justice, because they are not based in
an understanding and appreciation for
the roles and responsibilities judges
have in our traditional court process.
Bruce Kittle, formerly of the Restorative
Justice Project at the University of
Wisconsin Law School, gives us practical
ideas about introducing restorative
justice to judges. (excerpt)