Restorative Justice Programs
What Is the Philosophy of Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice philosophy represents a very different lens to view, understand
and respond to crime and victimization. It is a new way of thinking about how a
community can respond to crime. It holds offenders accountable and places emphasis
on repairing the harm done to the victim and the community.
This conceptual framework is being used with juveniles, youthful offenders and adult
criminals throughout the world. It is being used in courts, probation, police Departments,
court diversion programs, public schools agencies, organizations and community groups.
The Restorative Justice philosophy aims to:
- Increase opportunities for victim involvement in defining the harm and the potential
repair;
- Increase offender awareness of the harm done to the victim;
-
Involve the community in the process of holding offenders accountable;
- Acknowledge
victim harm and confirm that the victim is not responsible;
- Encourage offender
accountability;
- Help the community provide opportunities for the offender to
repair the harm;
- Involve the offender in repairing the harm; and
- Ensure
that the offender gains the skills to function more effectively in the community.
The Restorative Justice Model is a philosophy founded on the belief that
justice is best served when the community, victim, and offender receive balanced
attention, and when all parties gain tangible benefits from their interactions with
the juvenile and criminal justice system.
Current System Vs. Restorative Justice System
Old and New Paradigm
|
Current System |
Restorative Justice |
|
Crime is an act against the state, a violation of the law, an abstract idea. |
Crime is an act against another person and the community. |
|
The criminal justice system controls crime.
|
Crime control lies primarily in the community.
|
Action directed from state to offender:
- victim ignored
- offender passive
|
Victim & offender roles recognized in problem/solution:
- victim rights/needs recognized
- offender encouraged to take responsibility
|
|
Offender accountability defined as taking punishment.
|
Accountability defined as assuming responsibility and taking action to repair harm.
|
|
Crime is an individual act with individual responsibility.
|
Crime has both individual and social dimensions of responsibility.
|
Punishment is effective:
- threat of punishment deters crime;
- punishment changes behavior.
|
Punishment alone is not effective in changing behavior and is disruptive to community
harmony and good relationships.
|
|
Victims are peripheral to the process.
|
Victims are central to the process of resolving a crime.
|
|
The offender is defined by deficits.
|
The offender is defined by capacity to make reparation.
|
|
Focus on establishing blame or guilt, on the past (did he/she do it?)
|
Focus on problem solving, on liabilities/obligations, on the future (what should
be done?)
|
|
Stigma of crime unremovable.
|
Stigma of crime removable through restorative action.
|
|
Emphasis on adversarial relationship.
|
Emphasis on dialogue and negotiation.
|
|
Imposition of pain to punish and deter/prevent.
|
Restitution as a means of restoring both parties; goal of reconciliation/restoration.
|
|
Community on sideline, represented abstractly by state.
|
Community as facilitator in restorative process.
|
(Howard Zehr, 1985, 1990)
Child & Family Services Meets Restorative Justice
Child & Family Services started investigating the Restorative Justice model in 1999.
After months of investigating the philosophy, Child & Family Services decided to
contact key stakeholders in the community to look at ways to incorporate the Restorative
Justice philosophy in Erie County. In 2001, Child & Family Services started their
first program based on the Restorative Justice principles, Victim Offender Dialogue.
A year later, it was followed by another Restorative Justice model called Victim
Offender Conferencing. Today, Child & Family Services provides eight different programs
that are based on the Restorative Justice philosophy.
Meet the Director of Restorative Justice Programs
Nicole Wolasz, LMSW, is the Director of Restorative Justice Programs at Child & Family
Services. She received her Masters degree in Social Work from the University at Buffalo.
Ms. Wolasz has extensive experience working with children and families. Nicole is trained
in EMDR and has been recognized for her trauma informed treatment approach in working with
clients Ms. Wolasz has also been recognized by Child & Family Services for her energy,
and commitment to professional training. Nicole has been working for four years to implement
Restorative Justice philosophies in treatment of victims, offenders, their families, and the
community.
Restorative Justice Program Awards
In 2004, Child & Family Services Restorative Justice Programs were recently recognized
by the Sate of New York-Executive Chamber with the Dr. Martin Luther King Community
Service Award for being at the forefront of leadership efforts to improve the quality
of life for all New Yorkers.
Child & Family Services also was recognized in 2003 by the Erie County Youth Bureau
for the implementation of outstanding special delinquency prevention programs.
Child & Family Restorative Justice Programs
The Restorative Justice Department also offers the following services: