By Beverly B. Title, Ph.D. - Hats off to the planners and participants of the Restorative Justice Symposium in Colorado Springs, most especially all the members of the Pikes Peak Restorative Justice Council! The 2013 Symposium was an informative and inspiring event both in the quality of the program and also the opportunities to connect and reconnect with colleagues in Colorado and beyond! Every detail, from the location to the food, was addressed with respect for all the attendees, with Dorcas Willkinson, a member of the Pikes Peak Council assuring there were vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food options available. We were very well cared for! Read More
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is an approach to crime and wrongdoing that not only engages victims, offenders and their affected communities, but it is in fact governed by these three stakeholders. Restorative justice is about turning our attention and resources toward first recognizing harms experienced through crime, and then creating the conditions for that harm to be repaired, with a focus on righting relationships which have been thrown out of balance through harmful actions.
The result: restorative justice is cost-effective, shows the highest rates of satisfaction (%90+ from victims, communities & offenders) and reduces the offender re-offense rate to %10, down from a national average of 60% with conventional justice. Restorative Justice emphasizes the way in which crimes affect not only people, but also the community in which it occurs. Read More >>
Read the January 2013 NYT Magazine article "Can Forgiveness Play a Role in Criminal Justice" here.