Restorative justice is based on the theory of repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior.  It is a cooperative process that includes all the stakeholders: the community, the victim(s), and the offenders(s).  The approach utilized to achieve the outcomes differs depending on the offense, the cooperation of the victim, and the cooperation of the perpetrator.

As a volunteer participant and trained victim/offender mediator for the St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program, I have had the opportunity to participate in three different approaches to applying this theory:  victim empathy seminars, victim offender conferences, and underage consumption panels.  Below is a brief description of each approach.

At the St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program (SCVRJP), the basis of the victim empathy seminars and the underage consumption panels are conducted utilizing the Native American process of circles.  According to the website Restorative Justice online:

“Circles are found in the Native American cultures of the United States and Canada and are used for many purposes. . . . As with the restorative processes of mediation and conferencing, circles provide a space for encounter between the victim and the offender, but it moves beyond that to involve the community in the decision making process.” 

In SCVRJP’s model we use a talking piece that is passed around the circle.  Only the person holding the talking piece may speak.  This gives everybody the opportunity to listen and provides a nonconfrontational means to speak.  The participants do not speak to any one member but rather to the center of the circle.  The circle allows all persons involved (whether it be the offender, a community member, or a victim) to express their thoughts on the topic.  This can be from a community member talking about how the crime affected him or her as a community member or the offender speaking about why he or she may have committed the crime.  The key to success in this type of offender program is that is it voluntary.  All persons are there under their own choice and have not been coerced in any way.

The victim empathy seminars are conducted over approximately a 4 hour span.  The participants I have dealt with were juvenile offenders.  They usually attend with a parent.  The offender, community members, parents and the “keeper” of the circle all participate in the process.  Each person gets an opportunity to speak about the topic that the keeper has chosen for the group while passing around the talking piece.  Since there is no confrontational behavior allowed, it allows all participants to speak freely.

The underage drinking panels are also conducted within the circle.  While there is an educational element to these panels, each of the offenders and participants speak about their experience.  It provides a safe environment for expression, especially for the offenders.  It is rather surprising that the offenders are very open and sincere in their participation in these panels.

The victim-offender conferencing requires some formal training.  The purpose of these conferences is to bring together the victim of a crime and the offender who committed the crime.  It requires that the facilitator(s) prepare both the victim and the offender for the conference through visits prior to the actual conference.  This again is not a confrontational environment but rather a place where the victim expresses the harm caused by the offender’s behavior.  The offender has a chance to explain what happened and perhaps offer an apology.  It can be a highly emotional experience.  It is an incredible healing process.

Finally, SCVRJP is always looking for volunteers.  You, too, can be part of this process.  You can contact Kris Miner, Executive Director, St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program. 

Go ahead—get involved or find one in your area. 

From co-Author:

Liz Hurley-Felling, Criminal Justice/Paralegal Studies Instructor
Eagan Campus

Students and faculty on the Bismarck campus were privileged to have attended the presentation given by Lieutenant Nick Sevart of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday November 7. 

Lieutenant Sevart began his law enforcement career as a police officer in the small northeastern town of Langdon, North Dakota in 1981.  A short time later he was hired by the Bismarck Police Department to serve as a patrol officer.  Later in his career with the city of Bismarck, Nick headed the Police Youth Bureau for the Bismarck Police Department.  In January of 2003 Nick became Major of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Steve Berg.  In the fall of 2006 Sheriff Berg was defeated for re-election by Pat Heinert, a former Major of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department.  Nick currently serves as a Lieutenant with the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department.

Nick is a law enforcement officer who has a heart as well as a head.  He is someone that I met ten years ago as an undergraduate student, as a Rasmussen faculty member I treasure my personal and professional friendship with Lieutenant Sevart.  Nick served as a patrol officer where he learned first hand the dangers, stressors, and rewards of police work.  Our students found his real world experience and knowledge, combined with his amazing sense of humor and his ability to relate to college students and those who are not members of the law enforcement profession to be quite remarkable.  Lieutenant Sevart emphasized that those entering the law enforcement profession should continue to enjoy the hobbies that they are passionate about and to nourish relationships with family and friends who are not law enforcement officers.  Those hobbies, those family members, and all of the people who are dear to a law enforcement officer are the ties that will sustain the officer when the profession has its dark days.

In addition to Lieutenant Sevart’s presentation we were pleased to have one of our current criminal justice students, Juana Perius, offer a testimonial detailing the richness of her academic experience as a criminal justice student in Bismarck.  Juana will graduate in December of 2007 with her two year criminal justice degree. 

We are very proud of her.

 Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) held it’s Annual Fall Training Institute October 17-18-19, 2007 in St. Cloud, MN. The purpose of the Training Institute is to provide MCA members with a valuable training opportunity, which will promote both professional and personal growth. MCA is a non-profit professional association of more than 1,000 members, statewide, that has served as a forum for corrections in Minnesota since 1933. Members represent all facets of the field, including probation, supervised release, community based programs, residential programs and correctional facilities. The Minnesota Corrections Association is the oldest and largest corrections association in the state of Minnesota. It is also one of the largest in the nation.

There were over 750 corrections professionals in attendance. Also, there were almost 80 students from numerous colleges that received scholarships to attend the conference at no charge. Four Rasmussen College students from Mankato attended. There are a variety of workshops to choose from depending on your interests. Some of the scheduled topics were: Sex Offender Recidivism, Effective Case Planning, YLS/LSI-R Booster Training, Domestic Violence, Civil Commitment, Homicidal Behavior, just to name a few. Key note speakers included Crystal Woodman Miller, a survivor of the Columbine High School tragedy in 1999. She delivered an inspirational message of hope. Also speaking was Denise Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister. She has dedicated her life to spread the message of non-violence and domestic violence awareness.

Wednesday morning I attended a workshop titled ‘Female Responsive Programming’, the presenters were three Probation Officers from Hennepin County. They discussed current issues facing female offenders and research initiatives taking place in the state. Wednesday afternoon I attended a workshop titled ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’, the presenter was Jackie Millar. She survived an execution style shooting, when she interrupted two teens who were attempting to steal her car. She has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show and recounted her experience. She was shot and left for dead, doctors said she would never survive, yet she has recovered and has faced the man that tried to kill her and forgave him. A very emotional and spiritual presentation.

Thursday morning I attended ‘Homicidal Behavior’, presented by the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigations. The session included case studies and discussed the 14 warning signs of potentially violent (homicidal) behavior. Thursday afternoon I attended ‘Dealing with Change and Negativity’, presented by a retired police officer now engaged in providing professional training services. The workshop helped to increase an individual’s effectiveness in dealing with negative behaviors and resistance to change. Many humorous anecdotes were presented and I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

In addition to the many quality training opportunities there was a Resource Fair sponsored by 72 agencies that provide services to correctional clients as well as professionals working in corrections. Some very valuable information about services provided is available as well as some treats and goodies for stopping and chatting.

I would highly recommend exploring the MCA website to learn more about the organization and the many opportunities that exist for you to get involved. I hope to see you in Duluth next year for the 75th Annual Fall Training Institute.

Peace.