Spring  2015        

Why  did  They  Meet  Their  Offender?    A  ten-­‐year  data  analysis  of  victim-­‐offender  facilitated  dialogue  program  reveals  why  crime  victims  choose  to  participate                                                                                                                                                                                                          (page  4)    

 

In  this  Issue  

Page  1     Honoring  the  Place  and  Voice  of  Victims/Survivors  

Page  2    

Why  did  They  Meet  Their  Offender?  

Page  3    

Art  and  Accountability    

Page  4    

Serving  Victim  Needs  

Page  5    

Crime  and  Involuntary  Relationships    

Honoring  the  Place  and  Voice  of  Victims/Survivors  Due  to   its  close  associations  to  an  offender-­‐centric  criminal  justice  system,   it   is   important  that  the  restorative   justice  field  be  diligent  in  its  consistent  reflection  on  how  we  are,  or  are  not  meaningfully  attending  to  the  needs  of  the  victims/survivors  we  serve.    Through  this  year’s  NW  Justice  Forum  and  this  issue  of  the  RJCO  Quarterly,  the   hope   is   to   prioritize   and   provide   space   for   this   reflection   and  discussion.     For   the  2015  Spring   Issue,  we  highlight  how  the  work  with   victims/survivors   is   being  done   in   alignment  with   restorative  justice  values  and  principles.    Then  the  NW  Justice  Forum  on  June  23-­‐25   is   set   to   provide   safe   space   to   engage   with   the   theme   of  “Honoring   the   Place  and  Voice  of   Victims/Survivors:  The  Role   of  Restorative   Justice”.    Through  these  avenues,  our  hope   is   to  start  an   ongoing   conversation   that   ultimately   can   deepen   the   field’s  understanding   of   what  must   be   done   to  more  meaningfully   fulfill  the   promise   that   restorative   justice   holds   for   victims/survivors   of  crime  we  serve.                        

Sincerely,          Matthew  Hartman    President,  RJCO                

“Do  your  little  bit  of  good  where  you  are;  it’s  those  little  bits  of  good  put  together  that  overwhelm  the  world.”    

                                                                                                                                                         Archbishop  Desmond  Tutu  

RJCO  Quarterly  Restorative  Justice  News  for  Practitioners    

Page  6     Newsflash:  Eugene  

Upcoming  Events    

To  join  the  RJCO  Quarterly  mailing  list  click  here  

 

 

5  Spring  2015  

     

1

 

I   read   The   Crime   of   Punishment   (1969),   by   Karl  Menninger  when  it  was  first  published;  a  groundbreaking   book   that   provided   solid   evidence   that  our   prison   system   created   more   criminals   and   that  punishment   did   not   function   as   a   deterrent   to   crime.      Somehow   in   that   moment   I   knew   the   truth   of   the  importance   of   recognizing   the   relationship   between  someone  responsible  for  harm  and  the  person  harmed.  That   true   accountability   is   actualized   when   that   direct  connection   is   made,   when   the   personal   impact   is  understood,  when   there   is  no  distraction  afforded  by  a  plea,   or   denial,   or   through   some   external   punishment.  

These   beliefs   got  tested   when   seven  years   later   I   became  a   victim   of   a   violent  crime.   At   the   time,  people   asked   me   if   I  didn’t   want   the  stranger  who  tried  to  kill  me  locked  up  and  severely  punished.   In  

all  honesty  my  answer  was   no.   I  didn’t   trust   that  going  to  prison  would  address  whatever  caused  him  to  shoot  me  in  the  first  place  nor  prevent  him  from  doing  it  again.    I  wanted  a  conversation,  to  find  out  why  he  did  what  he  did.    To  tell  him  how  he  hurt  me.    I  longed  for  a  way  for  him   to   be   accountable   to   me.     I   wanted   him   to  reimburse   me   for   all   the   expenses   I   had…for   all   the  resources   I  would   come   to   use   throughout  my   lifetime  to  heal  from  his  actions.    I  still  do.    

In   February   2008   a   woman   contacted   me;   she   was  looking  for  a  “mediator”  to  facilitate  a  conversation  with  the   man   responsible   for   her   being   paralyzed   and   in   a  wheelchair.     Fifteen  years  prior  he  crashed   into  her  car  while  speeding  and  under  the  influence  of  alcohol.    After  months   of   preparation   I   facilitated   that   conversation  and  witnessed   the   importance  of  what  was   exchanged  

 

Crime  and  Involuntary  Relationships  In  practicing  restorative  justice  we  must  recognize  and  address  the  involuntary  relationship  created  when  crime  is  committed  with  approaches  that  are  victim-­‐centered  AND  offender-­‐sensitive      Mary  Zinkin,  Ph.D.  Co-­‐founder  Center  for  Trauma  Support  Services  Assistant  Professor  PSU  Conflict  Resolution  Graduate  Program    

2

for   BOTH   of   them   to   heal   and   recover.     And   I   learned  how  imperative  it  is  to  recognize  that  dialogues  between  those   impacted   by   crime   are   NOT   the   same   as  mediation.      

It  can  be  challenging  for  those  of  us  steeped  in  practices  that   are   derived   from   principles   of   conflict   resolution  and  mediation  to  recognize  those  differences.    However,  it   is   important   to   recognize   that   the   needs   of   the  victim/survivor   and   the   offender   are   NOT   equal   in   the  process  and  that  the  container  created  by  the  facilitator  MUST   ensure   that   the   victim/survivor   experiences   as  little   re-­‐traumatization  as  possible.    This   is  necessary   to  heighten  our   sensitivity   to  keep   contact,   conversations,  and   processes   victim/survivor   centered   given   the  offender  focus  of  the  criminal  justice  system.        

In  February  I  co-­‐founded  the  Center  for  Trauma  Support  Services,  a  community-­‐based  nonprofit.    While  currently  in  early  stages  of  development  our  mission  is  to  address  

the   needs   of   trauma  survivors   and   their  families,   particularly  victims   of   reported   and  unreported   crime,   with  services  that  restore  safety  and   create   connections.    We   recognize   the  

involuntary   relationship   that   is   created   when   crime   is  committed   and   are  motivated   to   expand   the   definition  of   justice   and   how   it   can   be   experienced.     We   are  dedicated  to  keeping  services  focused  on  victim/survivor  needs   and   increasing   safety   in   the   community   by  humanizing  those  impacted  by  crime.      

I  will  be  offering  two  workshops  at  the  Northwest  Justice  Forum   in   June.     One   will   be   showing   a   very   powerful  documentary   that   sheds   light   on   victim/survivor   needs,  and  the  other  focusing  on  a  particular  model  of  building  trauma  resiliency.      I   look  forward  to  working  with  all  of  you   to   further   your   mission   to   promote   and   support  restorative   justice   practices   by   creating   programs   that  are   both   victim/survivor-­‐centered   AND   offender-­‐sensitive.  

Page  2  

I  didn’t  trust  that  going  to  prison  would  address  whatever  caused  him  to  shoot  me  in  the  first  place  nor  prevent  him  from  doing  it  again.    I  wanted  a  conversation,  to  find  out  why  he  did  what  he  did.    To  tell  him  how  he  hurt  me.  

We  recognize  the  involuntary  relationship  that  is  created  when  crime  is  committed  and  are  motivated  to  expand  the  definition  of  justice  and  how  it  can  be  experienced.  

 

 

4  Spring  2015  

     

Page  3  

2

• Acknowledgement:   to   know   that   the  community  takes  seriously  what  has  happened  to  them  and  to  be  acknowledged  as  victims.  

• Information:  how   is   the  community  responding  to  the  harm  that  has  been  done  to  them?  What  can   they   expect   of   the  process   and  how  does   it  work?    What  services  are  available  to  them?  

• A   voice:   a   safe   place   to   share:   their   story,   the  impact  of  the  harm  done  to  them,  and  how  they  would   like   to  see   the  person   responsible   for   the  harm  held  accountable,  and  

• A   choice   to   participate:   an   opportunity   to  meaningfully   participate   in   the   justice   process  and   to   have   access   to   information   that   allows  them   understanding   of   the   ways   in   which   they  can  be  actively  involved.  

   

In   order   to   create   services   that   effectively   meet   these  ongoing   needs   of   victims   and   recognize   that   victim  impact  and  needs  are  not  static,  we  must  first  value  and  honor   victims.     Whether   we   are   working   as   restorative  justice  practitioners  or  within  the  criminal  justice  system,  there   is  room  to  strengthen  our  services  with  respect  to  victims.     When   we   create   restorative   justice   programs,  

we   must   constantly   ask  ourselves   how   we   are  honoring   victim   voice   and  work   to   consistently  improve   our   delivery.     We  must   create   spaces   and  organizational   partnerships  that   don’t   simply   allow  victims   an   opportunity   to  tell  their  stories  and  express  

their  needs,  but  that  truly  set  us  up  as  practitioners,  and  community,   to   respond   to   victim   needs.   We   must   ask  ourselves   how   our   attitudes   and   biases   perpetuate  marginalization   of   victims,   as   justice   is   not   being   done,  restorative  or  otherwise,  when  we  minimize  the  integrity  and  needs  of  the  victim.  

 

1

Having   worked   directly   with   offenders   and   the  incarcerated  population  for  many  years,  my  passion  for  restorative  justice  was  tightly  bound  to  the  idea  that  RJ  provides   an  opportunity   to  humanize   those  who  have  been   demonized.   I   championed   RJ   because   of   the  potential  positive  outcome  for  the  offender.    While  my  focus   had   been   on   my   work   with   offenders,   I   was  aware   that   victims   were   served   disproportionately  within   conventional   mechanisms   of   justice,   and   was  confident   that   victims   were   more   wholly   served  through  restorative  justice  processes.    

Now,   with   nearly   a   year   under   my   belt   running   a  restorative   justice   based   victim   services   program  providing   direct   service   to   victims,   I   have   come   to  acknowledge   that   while   restorative   justice   processes  create   the   possibility   to   meet   the   needs   of   victims,  community,   and   offenders   in   a   way   the   traditional  system  cannot,   the  approach   to  serving   each  of   these  stakeholders   often   remains   disproportionate   leaving  crime  victims  marginalized.      

It   is   critical   that   we   bring   more   balance   to   this  equation,   as   the   symbiotic   relationship   of   each  stakeholder   means   that   we   cannot   effectively   serve  one   without   wholly   serving   the   other.     To   begin   it   is  crucial   to   understand   what   the   majority   of   victims  seek:      

Serving  Victim  Needs    

 Working  for  victim  services  provides  insight  into  what  victims  needs  from  the  justice  system.    Rhea  DuMont  Victim  Services  Coordinator  Clackamas  County  Juvenile  Department  

 

When  we  create  restorative  justice  programs,  we  must  constantly  ask  ourselves  how  we  are  honoring  victim  voice  and  work  to  consistently  improve  our  delivery.      

 

 

3  Spring  2015  

     

Why  did  They  Meet  Their  Offender?        

 Evaluation  of  10  years  of  facilitated  dialogues  sheds  light  on  why  victims  choose  to  participate  in  the  program.    

Mike  Niemeyer Advisory  Committee  Member, Oregon  Department  of  Corrections Facilitated  Dialogue  Program

1

The   Oregon   Department   of   Corrections   (ODOC)   recently  completed  a  preliminary  evaluation  of  the  first  10  years  and  110   cases   of   the   Oregon   Facilitated   Dialogue   program  (FDP).     The   purpose   of   this   evaluation   was   to   articulate  a  program   logic   model   and   test   program   evaluation  instruments.   For   the   purposes   of   this   short   article,   I  summarize   the   reasons   why   victims/survivors   choose   to  participate  in  the  program.  

The   ODOC   FDP   program  provides   an  opportunity   for  victims/survivors   of   serious  and   violent   crimes   to  meet  with   their   offenders.     The  program   is   victim/survivor  initiated  and  typically  begins  with  a  telephone  conversation  between   the   program   coordinator   and   the  victim/survivor.       During   this   intake   process   the  victim/survivor  is  asked,  “What  do  you  hope  to  accomplish  in   this   process?”   In   reviewing   a   sample   of   the   responses  received   to   this   question,   six   major   themes   emerged.  The  victim/survivor  wanted:    

1. To  know  more   about   the   offender  (e.g.,  What  his/her  life  was  like  prior  to  the  crime?  What  are  his/her  current  goals  or  motivations?  What  is  his/her  attitude  towards  the   survivor?   Is   he/she   remorseful?   Do  we   need   to   be  worried   about   our   safety  when   the  offender   gets   out?  What  are  the  offender’s  spiritual  beliefs?).  

2. Additional   information   from   the   offender   regarding  the  details  of  the  crime  -­‐  put  conflicting  stories  to  rest  .  (e.g.,  What   happened   that   night?     Why   were   you  there?)  

3. To   see   some  action  from   the   offender  (e.g.,   Wanting  the   offender   to   do   something   positive   while  incarcerated;  Wanting   the   offender   to   do   good/better  when  they  get  out).

2

4. The  victim  wanted  the  offender  to  know  about  the  victim’s/survivor’s  current  state  of  mind.    

·∙   In   some   cases   the  victim/survivor   wanted   the  offender   to   know   that   the   victim/survivor   forgave  them;   In   other   cases   the   victim/survivor  wanted   to  explain   to   the  offender   that   a   shift   had  occurred   in  the   victim’s/survivor’s   thinking   since   the   crime   or  trial.     (e.g.,  One   respondent   indicated  that   that   they  had  made   statements   to   the   offender   in   court   that  they   now   regret.)   Some   victim/survivor   wanted   to  explain  what  their  life  has  been  like,  unrelated  to  the  crime  (e.g.   They   felt   it  was   it  was   important   for   the  offender   to  know  that  the  victim/survivor  can  relate  in   some   way   to   the   offender   because   of   their   own  difficulties  or  choices  in  life).  

5. To   acknowledge   or   clarify   a   past   or   ongoing  relationship  (e.g.,   The   victim/survivor   and   offender  may   be   family   members   or   at   one   time   had   a  relationship).    

6. To   see   changes   or   improvements   in   the  victim’s/survivor’s   own   life  (e.g.,   Mitigating   the  negative   impact   of   hate   or   anger   in   the  victim/survivor’s   life   felt   as  a   result   of   the   crime;   or  relieving  a  sense  of  guilt  that  the  victim/survivor  has  about  what  happened).  

To  what  extent  were  these  victim/survivor  goals  realized  in   the   facilitated  dialogue?    How  might   these  goals   shift  throughout   the   process?     These   and   other   important  questions   are   what   we   hope   to   ultimately   answer  through   the   FDP   evaluation   process.     Some   information  from   a   preliminary   evaluation   of   the   program   will   be  presented  at  the  NW  Justice  Forum  this  June.    

Page  4  

The  ODOC  FDP  program  provides  an  opportunity  for  victims/survivors  of  serious  and  violent  crimes  to  meet  with  their  offender.    

 

 

2  Spring  2015  

           

 

Teen  uses  song  writing  to  make  things  right  in  his  school  community    Cara  Walsh  Mediation  Works    

A  Rap  for  Restorative  Justice    

“I  think  music  in  itself  is  healing.  It’s  an  explosive  expression  of  humanity.  It’s  something  we  are  all  touched  by.  No  matter  what  culture  we’re  from  everyone  loves  music.”    Billy  Joel  

 

Dear  You,  I’m  Blue  I  made  my  choice  and  You  heard  my  voice  and  It  must  ‘ve  spoke  too  loud  

I  said  the  words  and  Now  you  have  heard  and  My  head  was  in  the  clouds  

 

Dear  you  I  apologize  for  my  crime  

I  just  didn’t  see  that  words  can  hurt  Dear  you  

I  am  feeling  bad  I  was  mad  I  hurt  you  with  my  regretful  words  

 

I  spoke  my  mind  with  Words  so  unkind  and  It  was  a  big  mistake  Now  I  feel  blue  and  I  have  hurt  you  and  

The  consequence  I’ll  take    

I  didn’t  think  first  ‘Bout  my  mistake  with  Words  harmful  as  a  gun  

My  mind  was  turned  off  and  My  sense  was  lost  and  Then  I  was  on  the  run  

 

Dear  you  I  apologize  for  my  crime  

I  just  didn’t  see  that  words  can  hurt    

Dear  you  I  am  feeling  bad  I  was  mad  

I  hurt  you  with  my  regretful  words  

Art  and  Accountability      

Page  5  

In  response  to  feeling  alienated  and  disconnected  from  his  school  community,  a  16   year-­‐old   youth   posted   a   Facebook   message   that   threatened   the   sense   of  safety   for   the   whole   school   community.   He   intentionally   created   a   malicious  statement   so   that   he   would   get   suspended   and   not   have   to   attend   school  anymore.  He  had  no  idea  how  far  his  social  media  blitz  would  ripple  out  and  the  

imminent   harm   that   it   created   amongst   his  peers,   teachers,   and   administrators.  Typically,  this  type  of  action  would  result  in  a  suspension,   however,   because   Mediation  Works   trained   the  administrators   of  Phoenix  High   School   in   restorative   practices,   they  recognized   that  his  behavior  was  a  symptom  of   something   else   out   of   balance.  

Subsequently,   this   youth   was   engaged   in   a   process   where   he   was   given   the  opportunity   to   be  heard,   feel   understood,   identify  what  was   at   the   root   of   his  actions,   learn  how  his   choices   impacted  others,   and  be  part   of   a   plan   to  make  things  right.  With  a  natural  proclivity  towards  music  as  a  form  of  expression,  this  youth   wrote   the   following   song   for   his   school   and   Principal   as   one   of   the  agreements   towards   taking   responsibility  and  acknowledging   the  harm  that   his  actions  had  caused  his  school  community  (poem  to  right).                

 

…  this  youth  was  engaged  in  a  process  where  he  was  given  the  opportunity  to  be  heard,  feel  understood,  identify  what  was  at  the  root  of  his  actions,  learn  how  his  choices  impacted  others,  and  be  part  of  a  plan  to  make  things  right.  

 

 

Spring  2015    

    Page  6  

Upcoming  Events  CoSA    Circle  Covenant  Training    May  15  7pm  -­‐  9  pm  Circle  Volunteer  Training  May  16  9am  to  3pm  Interchurch   Center,   Pamplin  Room   0245   SW   Bancroft   St.,  Portland,  OR      To   register,   please   contact  Audrey  DeCoursey  at    cosa@emoregon.org     or   (503)  988-­‐8580      NACRJ  Annual  Conference    The   Future   of   Restorative  Community   Justice:   Building  Sustainable  Communities    June  1-­‐3,  2015    Harbor  Beach  Marriott  Resort  &  Spa   3030   Holiday   Dr.,   Fort  Lauderdale,  FL  33316  

 

 

RJCO  Quarterly    

To  join  newsletter  mailing  list:  click  here  

Newsflash    

The  Center  for  Dialogue  and  Resolution  (CDR)  has  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the  Lane  County  District  Attorney’s  office  (DA)  and  Lane  County  Circuit  Court  to  start  accepting  referrals  of  adult  felony  property  crimes  for  diversion  into  a  restorative  justice  process.    The  defendants   in   these   crimes   (including   theft,   check   fraud,   embezzlement,  malicious  mischief   and  others)   voluntarily   choose   to  participate  and  must  waive  trial  and  admit  guilt  for  the  crimes  as  a  condition  to  entering  the  program.    If  they  successfully  complete  the  program  within  the  nine-­‐month  diversion  period,  the  charges  against  them  are  dismissed  by  the  court.     If  they  fail  to  complete  the  program  or  commit  another  crime  during  the  diversion  period  then  the  case  goes  back  to  the  court  for  sentencing.      

In   the   traditional   criminal   justice   system,   the   end   goal   is   for   a   guilty   defendant   to   be   held   accountable   by  determining   and   then  imposing  an  appropriate  punishment  for  the  crime,  given  all  the  circumstances.    In  the  restorative  justice  model,  the  end  goal  is  for  a  defendant  to  voluntarily  take  responsibility  for  his  or  her  actions  by  completing  a  series  of  actions  or  tasks  that  are  designed  to  repair  the  harms  to,  or  negative  impacts  on,  the  victim(s).    These  actions  or  tasks  are  determined  by  the  defendant  and  the  victim  together  during  a  facilitated  meeting  at  CDR’s  offices  and  can  be  tailored  to  meet  the  specific  needs  of  the  victim.      

The  DA’s  office  anticipates   referring   as  many  as  300  to  400  cases  per  year   to   this   newly   established  program.    Given  the   financial  condition  of  the  county  government,  CDR  designed  the  program  to  be  self-­‐sustaining  -­‐  without  the  need  for  government  funding  -­‐  by  placing  the  responsibility   for   the  cost  of  the  program  on  the  defendants  who  will  have  to  pay  a   fee  to  CDR   in  order  to  participate.    That  said,  during  this  inaugural  year  of  the  program,  the  county  applied  for  and  received  a  grant  that  will  be  used  to  subsidize  the  cost  for  the  defendants  using  a  sliding  scale  based  on  the  defendants’  income.    There  is  a  possibility  that  the  grant  will  be  renewed  in  the  following  year  or  years.  

The  court   just   recently   referred  the  program’s  first  cases  and  so   it  will  be  some  time  before  any  results  can  be  tabulated,  but  CDR  mediators   and   facilitators   can   already   see   the   potential   for   meeting   victims’   needs   and   for   improving   public   safety   by   helping  defendants  to  understand  the  ripple  effects  of  their  choices  so  that  in  the  future  they  will  make  different  choices.