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Re: A Question for Tony Brown



 
Gregory Dickson wrote:
 
I have been wading through some of the restorative justice stuff you have been sending out, and it appears to come down to this: crime makes people feel bad, the current criminal justice system makes people feel bad, so we need Restorative Justice to make people feel good.
 
I don't believe it is possible or appropriate to simplify the principles of restorative justice into a sound bite such as criminal justice makes people feel bad; Restorative justice makes people feel good. Restorative justice is a comprehensive answer to the complex problem of a criminal (retibutive)justice system which has been in a state of crisis for a very long time (huge budgets and crowded prisons are only symptons of the problem within our justice system). Restorative justice calls for everyone, not just criminal justice agencies and the courts to transform the way they respond to crime and conflict. One of the amazing things about this paradigm is that it it is used as the first option in crime and conflict the budgetary savings could be significant (as the Jim Consedine artcile documented that juvenile detention centers in New Zealand are closing because their is no need for them. Certain communities in the USA now accept the overflow of juvenile offenders in their facilities because they no longer have the flow of local youth). Resting at the core of resorative justice is healing the harm of crime for victims, offenders and the community.
 
Gregory writes:
 
Where do these various values you are promoting come from?
 
The values of restorative justice date back to the way crime and conflict was addressed in the community prior to the era of William the Conqueor. The practice of restorative justice dates back centuries with Indengenious cultures around the world (including Native American and First Nation Peoples here in North America). Restorative justice was practiced and taught in the Biblical era. The values of restorative justice can be found in most of the major religions and traditions of the world including: Native American practices; Buddhism; Chinese Culture; Christianity; Hinduism; Islam; Judahism and Sikhism.
 
Tony
 
 
Cordially,
 
Gregory C. Dickison
Lawyer & Counselor at Law
Post Office Box 8846
312 South Main Street
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 882-4009
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