More values in the restorative paradigm

["Tony C. Brown" <tony@fcrjquaker.org>]

I am intrigued by the questions and comments that I've received regarding the values of restorative justice. In 1998. Tom Cavanagh wrote that there is not consensus on the values of restoration and that may be diminishing the potential to heal the harm of crime and conflict. Four years have passed and there are moments when I question if we have acheived that unity, or if we are at least moving in the right direction.

 

Two years ago I sat through a process of a community setting aside the computers and meeting face to face to discuss the collective values that they share. The experience was difficult in some respects, yet ultimately very rewarding. Many communities elect not to work through such a process and accept a preordianed state of values--which might or might not reflect the voice of the community. A question or fear is what if the community does not value restoration. So far we are learning that is less of a concern than had been anticipated by some.

 

The difficulty in accepting a general set of values is that they lack the unique human quality resting within each community. Some of the identified values of restorative justice to date have been: reparation, restitution, accountability, blanced focus on victim and offender; comptency development, apologies, forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation, reintegration into the community for victims and offenders; spirituality, peace, justice, cultural diversity, equity, mercy, atonement, inclusion and love. Many of these values are in the eye of the beholder .Some are more defined than others. Several are difficult to measure, yet are infinetly more related to the new paradigm of resotrative justice than are tools that measure retribution and criminal justice.

 

There has been a concern expressed by some that restorative justice risks becoming, or has become, simply another form of White Man's justice. A question has come forward as to the role of the death penalty in restorative justice. I have a good friend who believes that it is possible for the death penalty to be in alignment with the values of restorative justice. So far that opinion is in a clear miniority amongst advocates for restorative justice, but the important thing is that a hard questions are being asked.

 

I want to share some more of the current value statements circulating in the restorative justice community and learn how each resonates with members of the community.

 

From Dr. Mark Umbreit

VALUE STATEMENT

Restorative Justice is a victim-centered response to crime and conflict that provides opportunities for those most directly affected-the victims, the offender (s), their families, and representatives of the community-to be directly involved in responding to the harm caused by the crime or conflict.  Restorative Justice is based upon values which emphasize the importance of providing opportunities for more active involvement in the process of:

	Offering support and assistance to victims
	Holding offenders directly accountable to the people and communities they have violated
	Restoring the emotional and material losses of victims (to the degree possible)
	Providing a range of opportunities for dialogue and problem-solving among interested victims, offenders, families, and other support persons
	Offering offenders opportunities for competency development and reintegration into productive community life
	Strengthening public safety through community building

Mark S. Umbreit, Ph.D.

 

The value statement of the Idaho Department of Corrections

Values
We encourage open dialogue and feedback ;  We are flexible;

We commit to helping others ;  We focus on quality ; We commit to the professional success of others ; We model what we value ; We serve the entire organization ; We are fair and consistent ; We are honest ;    People can change; We foster dignity and respect staff, offenders and the public; We respect and appreciate each other's roles and contributions

The Restorative Justice Council of Larimer County started a discussion on values in September 2000. The following is a listing of what they value without specifics of how to implement. Interestingly enough some of the most ideal values are already in practical implementation here in Idaho and Latah County...

1. Forgiveness
2. Reconciliation
3. Respect for Culture Diversity
4. Community ownership of Restorative Justice
5. Accountability for offenders
6. Healing
7. Ex-offenders working as facilitators and other roles
8. Victims working as facilitators and other key roles
9. Faith as part of the healing process
10. Accountability of the criminal justice system
11. Youth serving as facilitators
12. Youth taking a leadership role in developing programs
13. Mercy
14. Re-integration of offenders into their community
15. Re-integration of victims into their community
16. End to mandatory sentencing in juvenile cases
17. Closing of Juvenile Detention Centers
18. Paying community members for their work in restorative justice
19. Closure of for profit private prisons
20. Abolishment of the death penalty
21. Educational opportunities for offenders
22. Educational opportunities for victims
23. Restitution
24. Community partnership with justice agencies
25. Justice, not Just Ice
26. Respect for victims and offenders
27. Tolerance

                

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