Gordon Graham
Category: Corrections
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today, I’d like to talk to my friends in corrections about facilitating restorative justice programs.
Restorative justice is a concept rooted in repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It has three core principles: accountability, community safety, and competency development. Accountability requires offenders to take responsibility for their actions and understand the impact of their behavior on victims and the community. This may involve restitution, community service, or other reparative activities.
“The overall goal is to work together in a collaborative manner to improve the lives of everyone involved.”
Community safety involves creating a supportive environment where victims and communities can rebuild trust. When offenders actively work to repair the harm they’ve caused, it can strengthen social fabric. Competency development focuses on the offender. It’s about equipping them with the skills and understanding necessary to prevent future offenses. This might involve education, vocational training, or counseling.
So, what can your agency do? Make sure staff are trained in restorative justice principles and practices. This includes understanding the philosophy behind it and practical steps to facilitate restorative justice programs. Obtaining victim input is equally important in determining how harm can be repaired. This might involve facilitated meetings between victims and offenders. Partnering with community organizations that can support both victims and offenders can provide resources and support beyond your agency’s capabilities.
Lastly, incorporate restorative practices into your programming. These might include community service projects, victim-offender mediation, and educational workshops for offenders.
Remember, folks, the overall goal is to work together in a collaborative manner to improve the lives of everyone involved.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
