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StartingaRestorativeJusticeProgramStartthelearningjourneybygettingtoknowyourcommunity’sneedsByChristyBarbeeNotworestorativejusticeprogramsarealike.Nocookiecuttersortemplatesexist,butkeyelementsunderliesuccessfulprograms,whetherthey’rehomegrownandcommunity-basedorinitiatedthroughanaffiliationwiththecriminaljusticesystem.

HereIfocusontheformer,thosegrass-rootseffortsdrivenbyindividualsattractedtotheprinciplesofRJ.

DrawingonmyownexperienceinaRJprogramstartedandnurturedbycivic-mindedindividuals(CommunitiesforRestorativeJusticeinMassachusetts,www.c4rj.com),andontalkswithpeopleatothersuchprograms,Isummarizetheelementsforsuccessinthesephases:

• GettingInformed• BuildingAwareness,Building

Relationships• Training• Launching

GettingInformedSoyou’veheardaboutRJandthink:“Iwanttobringthattomycommunity.I’llcallmyfriends

andrecruitthem.”Yougettheminthesameroom,andthenwhat?Youneedtolearn,notonlyaboutRJ,butalsoabouttheneedsinyourcommunity.“Thispartisreallyimportant:youneedtogobroadanddeep,”saysLukeYoder,executivedirectoroftheCenterforRestorativePrograms,basedinAlamosa,Colorado.TheCenterstarted20yearsagoasacollectionoffolksinterestedintheworkandgrewtoastaffedprogramofferingseveralapproacheswiththecourtsandotheragencies.Thedepth,saysYoder,comesfrom“reallygettingtoknowhowinstitutionsarefunctioninginyourcommunity,lookingattheschools,[court]diversion,andattheneedsofthejusticesystem.”Inotherwords,don’tassumethatoneapproachwillfitallillsorfillallperceivedgapsinserviceinyourcommunity.PersuadingotherstotryRJwillgobetterifyouknowwhatstakeholdersreallywanttoaccomplish.Makesureyourgroupmembershaveawayoflearningaboutrestorativejustice,aboutboth

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theprinciplesandwidevarietyofpractices.Theprocessesyouchooseshoulddependonyourlocalneeds.Somecommunitiesstartwithastudygroup,withmembersdividingupbooks,articles,andvideosandpresentingtoeachotherfordiscussion.Ifyou’refortunateenoughtohaveanongoingRJprograminyourregion,reachouttoitsdirectorandaskforadviceandwhetherit’spossibletoobtaintrainingortoobservethatprogram’sprocess.MostRJfolksareeagertotalkabouttheirwork.Thenstudygroupmembersgetintouchwithlocaljudgesandothercourtpersonnel,police,prosecutors,andschoolpersonnel.Ifyourtownhasahumanrightsorganizationorprisonoutreachprogram,makeconnectionsthere.CitizengroupsliketheLeagueofWomenVoterscanalsobegoodresourcesforunderstandinglocalissues.Manyfaithcommunitieshavesocialactioncommitteesthatbecomevoicesforjustice.Thepurposeforthispartoftheinvestigation:learning(a)howjusticeisperceivedinthecommunityand(b)whatneedsaregoingunmetthatrestorativejusticecouldhelpfill.Forinstance:Dovictimsofcrimehaveanopportunitytoaskquestionsaboutwhathappenedtothem?Aretheredemographicgroupsthatdonothavesufficientaccesstoinstitutions?Islawenforcementperceivedasapproachable,thereforall?Arethereperceiveddifferencesinhowsomecitizensaretreated?Areyoungharm-doerstreatedinamannerthattakesintoaccounttheirdevelopmentalneeds?Arementalhealthfacilitiesavailabletoassistthevictimsorharm-doers,ifrequired?It’simportanttofindoutwhatothergroupsareworkingtoprovideservicesrelatedtopublichealthandjustice.Individualsinsuchendeavorscanbeimportantalliesinbringing

RJtothefore.Bythesametoken,ifotherindividualsarealreadyquietlypursuingrestorativejustice,youwanttoknowwhattheyhavealreadydone—ratherthanrunningathwartofthoseeffortsandpossiblyconfusingfuturestakeholders.

BuildingAwareness,BuildingRelationshipsIfyou’vealreadyreachedouttolocalpeopleaboutjustice,you’vestartedtherelationshipsyoucanusetobuildaprogram.Nowit’stimetoletthewidercommunityknowaboutrestorativejustice.Considerholdingacommunityforumwithaninvitedspeaker,preferablyanexperiencedpractitioner.Inaddition,groupmemberscanseekinvitations

LearningaboutRJStartwiththeamazinglyconciseLittleBookofRestorativeJustice,byHowardZehr.IalsorecommendZehr’sweightierChangingLenses,whichlooksattheevolutionofjusticesystems(howwegotwhereweare)andhowrestorativejusticecanrecapturesomeoftheelementsofcommunityjustice.DoawebsearchfororganizationsdoingRJorrestorativepractices,especiallythoseinyourstateorregion.CheckYouTubeforpresentations,TEDtalksanddocumentaries.Oneis“FindingCourage,”ahalf-hourvideoabouttheprocessofferedbyCommunitiesforRestorativeJustice(C4RJ,myalmamater)inMassachusetts,aprogramthatstartedin1999,whentwoardentcitizensgottheearoftheirlocalpolicechiefandthenbuiltaprogramwithvolunteers(16yearslater,volunteersstilldothework,guidedbyasmallstaff).

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tospeaktomeetingsofotherorganizations,likechurches,civicandservicegroupssuchasRotaryandLions,parent-teacherorganizations,mediationgroups,andevenbookgroups.Suchcommunitymeetingsletyougetthewordoutaboutwhatrestorativejusticeisandtogatherinput.Italsolaysthegroundworkforfundraisinglater—andit’sagreatwaytorecruitmorevolunteers.You’lllikelylearnofcommunitymemberswho’vehadexperiencesthey’rewillingtospeakaboutatfuturemeetings.Storytellingisapowerfulwaytoillustratepositiveexperiencesaswellasneedsgoingunmetbylocalinstitutions.

Ifyourlocalnewspaperprintsguestcolumns,havesomeonefromyourgroupwriteapieceaboutthepowerofrestorativeprocessestoimproverelationshipsandbuildcommunity.IfyourcommunityhasaTVstation,askittorunpublicserviceannouncementsaboutyourefforts.Localaccessstationsmightwanttotapeyourforumsoawideraudiencecanviewit.LookforwebsitesthattalkaboutlocalissuesandaskforspacetoaddressRJ.Atthesametime,solidifyyourrelationshipswithjusticesystemstakeholders.Besuretoinvitepolicechiefsandofficers,localcourtrepresentatives,andelectedofficialstoyourevents.Askthemwhatissuestheyseeinthecommunityandwhethertheycanimaginerestorativesolutions.Expectwarinessamongthosewhoworkinjustice,andlistencarefully—notjustforpointstorefutebuttounderstandperspectivesandconcernsthatyouwillneedtoaddresswhenyoudecidehowtolaunchRJ.Gettingbuy-inIfyou’vegottenthisfarinyourplanning,youknownoteveryonefeelsassureasyoudothatRJhasmerit.Evenifajudgeorapolicechiefsays,yes,let’sdoit,you’lllikelyfindthatnotall

officersarekeenorevenwillingtoparticipate.Somewillbeworriedthatyourapproachisgoingtobe“toosoft”orjust“touchy-feely.”Forsome,it’stoofaraleapfromtheirviewoflawandorder.Courtclerksandprobationofficersmaythinkthey’realready“doingenough”foroffenders,thatRJwouldbeoverkill.Seldomdodoubtersbringupvictims,notbecausetheydon’tcareaboutthem,butbecausetheyassumethesystemisdoingallitcan.

Convincingthedoubtersmayseemadauntingchallenge.Don’tbedaunted.Listenandlure.Youcanprovidestatisticsandinformationaboutrecidivismandsuccessesatotherprograms,butthatwon’tnecessarilydispeldoubtsaboutRJworkinginyourcommunity.Drawoutthedoubtersandhearwhattheirconcernsareandaskifthey’lljustgiveitatry.MostcriminaljusticestakeholdersareatleastassuagedwhentheyseethatinaRJprocess,accountabilityisfrontandcenter.Theyseethatmanyrestorativeagreementsaskmoreofoffendersthanthecourtwould,andnearlyalwaysincludemeasuresthataremoremeaningfultotheharm-doersaswellasthoseharmed.TheyseethatpeoplewhohavebeenharmedgetachancetospeakANDaskquestions,andtohaveasayaboutwhatwillhappen.Themostimportantthingyoucandotobringdoubtersaroundistoincludethem.

PersuadingotherstotryRJwillgobetterifyouknowwhatstakeholdersreallywanttoaccomplish.

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Ready,Set,GetTrainedAtthispoint,you’velearnedalotaboutrestorativejusticeandaboutyourcommunity’sneeds,butifnooneinyourgrouphaseverbeenpartofarestorativejusticeprogram,getsometraining.Trainingwithsomeonewell-versedandexperiencedinrestorativepracticesisessential.Whynotjustmakeitupasyougo?Becauseit’snotaseasyasitlooksonavideoorinabook,orfromhearingatalkabouttheprinciples.Youwantthebenefitofothers’experience,theirsuccessesandmissteps.Makesureyouhaveaccesstoadviceasyougrow.CheckfirstwithotherRJgroupsinyourstateorregionaboutwhethertheyoffertrainings.It’sgreatiftheycansendsomeonetoyoutoprovideanintroductorytrainingforeveryoneinyourgroup.Butifthat’snotpossible,seeifyoucansendyourgroupmemberstothetrainingofferedbythosemoredistantorganizations.Expecttopayforsuchtraining.Thismaybethefirstthingyou’llneedtofundraisefor.Somecollegesanduniversitiesoffercoursesinconflicttransformation,whichmayincludeinstructionaboutrestorativejustice.Thismaybebroaderthanwhatyou’relookingfor,butit’sworthaskingaboutcertificationcourses.Checkwithorganizationsthattrainmediatorsaboutwhethertheyalsofocusonrestorativeprocesses.RJismuchmorewidespreadthanitwas10yearsago,butifyou’reinanareawhereyou’rethepioneer,considertrainingwiththeInternationalInstituteforRestorativePractices(IIRP).LocatedinPennsylvania,IIRPoffersseveraltrainingsayear.Inaddition,IIRP

trainersarelocatedaroundthecountryandmightbeabletocometoyou.Abasictrainingwillshowyourgroupwhataprocesslookslikeandprovideawindowintotheperspectivesofparticipants—peopleaffectedbycrime,harm-doers,parentsandlovedones,andcriminaljusticestakeholders.Trainingshouldincludereviewoftheprinciplesanddetaileddescriptionsoftheprocess(es)you’lluse—abouttalkingroundsandbuildingarestorativeagreement,forinstance,inaconferenceaddressingharm.Itwillillustratetheimportanceofguidelines,orgroundrules,andofpreparation(it’simportanttointerviewallparticipantsbeforeaRJprocesssoyouunderstandwhatislikelytocomeupandsoyoucandescribetoeachprospectiveparticipantwhatacircleorconferenceislike).

Ibelievetrainingshouldalwayscontainrole-playingexercisessothatallgetachancetothink—andfeel—what’sentailed.Askyourtrainerwhethers/hehasascenariothatcanbeactedout.Ordeviseoneofyourown,perhapscreatingafictionalizedversionofarealeventinyourcommunity.Iknow,manypeoplecringeatthethoughtofrole-play.Butifeveryonecommitstoplayingtheirpartswithfidelity,allcanlearn,notjustaboutthenutsandboltsoftheprocess,butabouttheemotionalcontent.Role-playcanbeagreatempathybuilder.Afinalthoughtforthecringers:ifrole-playmakesyounervous,that’suseful.Everyoneinarestorativeprocessisgoingtobenervous.That’sokay.

Role-playisagreatempathybuilder.Useitintraining.

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Thisfirsttrainingyourorganizationtakesisfoundational.Yourfirstkeepers,orfacilitators,willemerge.Otherswillbecomeinterestedincoordinatingprocesses.Someinyourgroupmaydecidetheydon’twanttobekeepersoractiveparticipants,buttheywillbewell-informedaboutwhatyou’regoingtodoandbecomeeffectiveadvocatesofRJinthecommunity.Further,trainingwillhelpyourgroupdevelopthecriteriayouwilluseforacceptingthecasesthataregoingtocomeyourway.Afterthetraining,makesureyourpotentialreferralpartnersknowwhatthosecriteriaare.ShapingyourprogramWhatyou’velearnedfromcitizensandotherpossiblereferralsourceswillshapethekindofprogramyouwillstart:willyouofferrestorativejusticeprocessesfollowingspecificinstancesofharm-doing?Orwillyouinstead/inadditionprovidebroaderrestorativeconferencesinthecommunitytodiscussongoingissues,suchasneighborhoodconflict,racialandeconomicdisparities,orcommunity-policerelations?Whatprocessorprocesseswillworkbestinyourcommunity;forinstance,acircleprocess,afamily-groupconference,orvictim-offendermediation?Thinkaboutthecriteriaforacceptingacase.Mostprogramshaveamongtheirreferralcriteriathat(a)harm-doersmustacknowledgetheirroleintheharmand(b)victimsarewillingtohavethecasereferredforrestorativejustice.Thinkaboutwhetheryouwillholdaprocessifavictimassentstothereferralbutdoesnotwanttoparticipatedirectly.Howcanyourepresentthevictim’sconcernsintheirabsence?Whatlevelofharmsandcrimewillyourgrouptakeup?Mostcourtdiversionprogramswillconsiderdiversiononlyforfirst-time(usuallyyoung)offenderswho’vecommitted

nonviolentmisdemeanorsandlow-levelfelonies(usuallyfallingunderacertaindollar-amountofdamage).Thus,manyRJprogramsarealsolimitedtothosecriteria.Thatmaybeagoodstartingpointasyoubeginyourrestorativejusticework,butthereisnoreasonnottolookbeyondthatasyoubuildyourcapabilities.

Forinstance,theftofasmartphonelikelytranscendsthedefinitionbymoststatesofalow-levelfelony,butrestorativeprocessesveryeffectivelyaddressthistypeoftheft,whichhasaclearpersonalimpactforthevictim.Someassaultsareveryappropriateforrestorativejustice.Acaveat:Restorativejusticeprogramsusuallydrawthelineatdating-and-domesticviolencecasesbecauseoftheparticularrelationshipdynamicscommontosuchincidents.

Restorativejusticeshouldn’tbewithheldfromavictimjustbecausethewrongdoer(s)havebeenintroublebefore.Further,I’veseeninstancesinwhich“repeatoffenders”havebenefittedfromRJ,makingfullrestitutionanddoingsomorequicklythanthecourtwouldhaveordered;gettingneededservices;improvingrelationswithfamilymembers;andbeingabletoacknowledgemorefullytheeffectsoftheiractions—thusenablingthemtomakemuchmoremeaningfulapologiestothoseaffected.Willyouacceptreferralsofyouthonly,orwillyoualsoacceptyoungadults(somestatesarelookingtoinclude18-to24-year-oldsinyouthdiversionapproachesasrecognitiongrowsthat

Trainingwithsomeonewell-versedandexperiencedinrestorativepracticesisessential.

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thebrainisstill“maturing”untilkidsreach25.)Willyouacceptallages?Willyouofferparalleljustice,thatis,aprocessusedininstancesinwhichthereareclearvictimsbutnooffenderhasbeenidentified?Willyouacceptreferralsfromlawenforcement,fromthecourts/probation,socialserviceagencies,schools,after-schoolprograms,businessesandotherorganizations?Fromallorjustone?It’susefultostartwithoneasyougetuptospeed,butopentoothersasyourgroupdevelopsitsskillsandconfidence.

Keepinmindthatrestorativejusticeshouldalwaysbevoluntary,forharm-doers,affectedparties,andothers.

Launching:ThatFirstCaseSoyou’velaidthegroundwork.Youhavegroupmemberstrainedandwillingtofacilitateaprocess.Yougetacallfromalaw-enforcementagency,aprobationofficer,aprosecutor,oracommunityorganizationsayingtheyhaveacasethatmightbeappropriate.Areyouready?Youmaynotfeelasthoughyouare,butifyou’vetrainedandpracticed,andthecasemeetsyourgroup’scriteria,it’stime.Jumpinwithtwofeet.

Stepsinarestorativeprocess

1. Askthereferralpartnerforalldetailsrelevanttothecase:namesandcontactsofallinvolved

(harm-doers,directvictims,othersaffected,andarepresentativeforthereferrer),anarrativedescriptionofwhatoccurred,andanyinformationthatwillbehelpfultoafacilitator/keeperinpreparingfortheprocess.• Askwhetherthesepotentialparticipantshavebeeninformedabouttheprocess.That’s

preferabletoacoldcallorletterfromyou.

2. Contacteachpersoninvolved.IntroduceyourselfandaskwhenitwouldbeconvenienttomeettoinformthemabouttheRJprocessandforyoutoaskquestionsaboutwhathappened.Atthispoint,it’sbetternottohaveharm-doersandthosethey’veaffectedrunningintoeachother,soscheduleconsiderately.

3. Carryouttheinterviews.Askeachwhattheywanttocommunicate.Sometimesit’shelpfulto

participantstothinkthroughandrehearsewhattheywanttosay.Askallpotentialparticipantswhatdaysandtimesareconvenientforthem.Keepinmindtheimportanceofsupportingthevictimandhonoringtheirwishes.Askwhattheyhopetogainfromtheprocess.

4. Setthetimeanddate.

• Arrangeforaspacethatwillaccommodatethenumberofpeopleyouwillhaveandanyfurnishingsyouwant(chairsandtableornotable?Easelsorwhiteboard?)You’llprobablywantaspaceinwhichpeoplecanspeakfreelywithoutworryingaboutpeopleoutsidethespaceoverhearing.Confidentialityiscriticaltotheprocessandsafetyofall.

5. Prepare.

• Thinkaboutseating—whoshouldsitnexttowhom?

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• Willyouhaveoneortwofacilitators?• Whatquestionswillyouasktogetthediscussionrolling?• Whatpossiblehurdlesorflashpointscanyouanticipateandhowmightyoubepreparedtodeal

withthese?• Haveanyofthepartiessuggestedrestorativeagreementitems?

6. Circle/conferencetime!Assignmembersofyourgrouptogreetandescorteachparticipant.ThisisimportantIfpeopleareshowingupatthesametime,andespeciallyifyouknowtheyarenervousaroundorhostiletooneanother.

7. Introductions.

• Welcomepeopleandexplainwhatwilloccur.• Reviewgroundrules(orasktheparticipantstoofferideasforgroundrules).• Askeveryonetointroducehim/herself.

8. Startthetalking.• Decideaheadoftimewhowillspeakfirst:theperson(s)affectedortheharm-doer.Iliketoask

theaffectedpartieswhethertheywouldliketospeakfirstorhearfromtheharm-doerfirst.• Common,open-endedquestionsforharm-doerinclude:Whathappened?Whatwereyou

thinkingbefore,andwhatafter?Whomdidyouthinkmightbeaffectedbyyouractions?Whathaveyouheardsince?

• Commonquestionsfortheaffectedparties:Whathappened?Whatwasthislikeforyou?Whathavebeentherippleeffectsforyou?

9. Comingtoanagreementoractionplan.

• Askwhethereachparticipanthassaidoraskedalltheymeantto.• Whenallhaveassented,askeachwhats/hethinkscanbedonetoaddressthewrongsdoneor

toimproveanongoingsituation.Makenoteofeachofthese;wheneveryonehashadachancetospeak,reviewthelist.Don’tleaveoutanyone’sidea,evenifyouknowittobeimpractical.Everyoneshouldfeelheard.

• Askthegroupifyoumissedanythingorwhetheranyonehasanythingtoadd.Someideasmayduplicateeachother.Reviewtheaimoftheideasandseeifyoucangetconsensusaroundparticularsuggestions.

• Conductadditionalroundstowinnowthelistofideasorfirmthemup.Whenyoubelievethelistismanageable,askwhetherthereisconsensus.Ifso,writeupanagreement.Onceyou’vedonethis,readittoensurethatallagree.Whentheyhave,passitaroundforeachperson’ssignature.

10. Nextsteps.

• Willyouholdaculminatingprocess?Ifso,arrangeadatewhileyouhaveeveryoneinyourpresence.

• Ifnosuchfinaleventisneeded,besuretosetadeadlineforwhenallagreementitemsshouldbeaccomplished.

• Designateaperson(s)toensuretheitemshavebeendone.

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11. Endingtheevent.Thankeveryoneforhis/herparticipationandgoodwork.Askwhetherthereare

closingthoughtsparticipantswouldliketoexpress.Useanotherroundifneeded.12. Afterthecircle.

• Ifyoudidn’tdistributecopiesoftheagreementtoeachparticipantinthecircle,doitnow,bymailoremail.Inaddition,makesurethereferringpartnerreceivesacopyandisawareofthetimelineagreedtoforthoseinvolved.Askthepartneratwhatintervalstheywishtobeinformedaboutprogressorproblems.

• Debriefwithyourgroupmemberstotheextentallowedbyconfidentialityguidelines.Whatwentwell?Whatcouldhavebeenbetter?“Ithinkthisisparticularlyimportantasthegroupdefinestheirwayinthebeginning,”saysBarbaraHowland,oneoftheearlycasecoordinatorsforC4RJinMassachusettsanditssecondboardpresident.Volunteerssupportedeachotherandlearnedtogether.

• Writeasummaryofthecase,recordinghowitwentbutalsowhatcouldbeimproved.• Celebrate!

ChristyBarbeeisarestorativejusticepractitionerandtrainer,availableat978.502.1928orcb@christybarbee.net.Herwebsiteiswww.christybarbee.net.