The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Restorative Practices International and Restorative Justice

I just went to hear the Restorative Practices International Panel Discussion on “Which Provides Safer Communities, a punitive or restorative approach?”

Panel:
Mr Michael Daly : Youth Court Magistrate
Sgt Peter May : Tasmania Police
Ms Donna Witek : Youth Justice Services
Mr Phillip McKay : Uturn
Mr Neil Warnock : Whitelion
Mr Les Drelich : Restorative Practices Facilitator

I"]Just got home from listening to a mind blowing panel discussion on Restorative Justice! I’m just quivering - almost tearful - with excitement at hearing how it actually works in practice! These aren’t just “nice” theoretical ideas, they are far more effective than alternative approaches!!! It’s one of those times I can’t type/express my thoughts fast enough! :smiley:

I’ve got to go to bed now (my 14h work day yesterday has caught up with me), but tomorrow I’ll try to post a some of the amazing things I learnt!

Sounds great bro :slight_smile:

It’s certainly initially counterintuitive (although less so for EUs)! But listening to story after story of how it really does, is amazing. They also quoted studies that showed it works, and gave examples of it working in other countries, producing huge positive ripple on effects & reduced re-committing etc. There was even a moment were I actually shed a tear (no one saw as I was the lone person in the front row!).

To be fair there are some situations where we currently lack the wisdom/resources/skills to facilitate the restoration. e.g. psychopaths. However, one day, God willing, we will find a cure to that too – unless Christ returns and heals people.

Encouragingly it was well attended - about 50-100(?) people. And from a wide range of organisations. Lawyers, social workers, charities, education, prison workers, police, & even local MPs!! I was excited to find out that it’s gaining momentum, not just in Youth Justice, but in society too!! Makes me want to get more involved - shame I don’t have any qualifications & not sure I’d be able to afford my mortgage by just volunteering But one day, when kids are at school & Shell at work, maybe the door will open!

Some things from my notes:

  1. RJ works regardless of gender

  2. RJ works at any age

  3. there have been indigenous groups around the world that have used it for thousands of years

  4. Victims & perpetrators usually both want reconciliation

  5. Apologies are incredibly powerful

  6. Even simply hearing both sides of the story, and how victim has been hurt, makes a huge impact

  7. RJ is self replicating. It spreads & people begin doing it of their own accord, without help

  8. RJ increases ownership of offence & the amount of remorse felt

  9. “The more severe the the offence, the more powerful the RJ healing is”

  10. Relationships improve effectiveness of RJ

  11. It strengthens communities

  12. “RJ can be a philosophy of life - it can be used at home, at work, anywhere”

  13. “Although we want justice quickly, we also want it fairly” - Judge

  14. Walking along side people helps. Leading by example helps.

  15. “Consequences are very important, but you want to make sure the punishment isn’t pointless, that it achieves something, rather than feeding the cycle.” - Judge

  16. “Courts are a very blunt tool & often less effective” - Judge

  17. The wrong type of punishment can escalate the problems. e.g. children who get suspended are much more likely to end up in jail

  18. Given a little help, most people are able to contemplate what they’ve done & how they’ve hurt someone

I’m glad you’re excited about this, Alex! People carry their view of justice into Christendom. Those who believe in punative justice think that God must punish everyone for what they did in the past, making them “pay” for their wrongdoing, or else make Jesus “pay” in their place. Those who believe in restorative justice think that God is going to correct everyone’s present behaviour and restore them to Himself, delivering them from wrongdoing through Christ’s sacrifice.

A most impressive book on the topic of restorative justice is the book Changing Lenses by Howard Zehr.

You can get it from Amazon for $6.40 or the Kindle edition for $7.39

amazon.com/Changing-Lenses-Focus-Justice-Christian/dp/B00DTOYSX

Yes, I had an very interesting chat to the organiser after the meeting about the relationship between religion & RJ. Turns out he is a Catholic, which makes sense :slight_smile:

Thanks! I’ve ordered myself a copy :sunglasses:

Sounds really interesting, Alex. At our old church we used to have a woman’s group, all former drug users, attend. When I read number 9, “The more severe the the offence, the more powerful the RJ healing is,” I thought of some of them. They have powerful testimonies of how they feel like God saved them from a miserable life of despair in drugs. After many years, I still know some of them on fb, they are continuing to be thankful for their rescue. It is really encouraging that no matter how big the offence, there is no obstacle to big for God. He can restore.

Yes, I was reflecting that if our offence was infinite, the healing would be infinite.

I am just now beginning to rethink punitive vs. restorative justice but I can immediately see how the different philosophies will result in different practices and differing results. Restorative justice requires a much greater investment of resources at the front-end, but would result in much better benefits for both the victims and the violators in the long-run. I am also finding that such will help in parenting. Rather than just penalizing for the wrongs, make the penalty something that will give the person/child a sense of contributing to the needs of others, building a healthy self-esteem and compasion for others through doing good.