More and more evidence – anecdotal and empirical – show that restorative practices can have transformative benefits for victims, communities, and offenders while addressing the expensive costs to society, primarily recidivism.

After all, if we don’t address the very real needs of victims, communities, and offenders, the only alternative is to continue to build prisons, which all too often is a model for perpetuating the cycle of crime rather than a model of rehabilitation.

Making the delivery of justice more “meaningful” for all involved seems consistent with competing demands of costs facing governments and the benefits which could accrue to all stakeholders.

During this season, the value of restorative justice becomes even more relevant and brings needed hope during a time when most feel hopeless. I wish that every municipality would have a restorative justice community serving our victims, our offenders, our child welfare agencies, our schools and our families. What a wonderful world it would be when we use the best of ourselves to address our harm to one another. I have served prisoners, their children and their families for 20 years now, and there are amazing transformative capacities in each individual. The truest example I have found is when women give birth to their infants in prison, are separated from them, yet with visitations, an authentic bond develops that survives the often long years of separation. What a human spirit we have been given. We can celebrate this gift all year long.

Yes, “stories are our soul.” I just have the opportunity to hear the stories of Latino students at the local High School. One student was the most disruptive at the beginning of the class and at the Circle couldn’t come with any story … until he did. He told the most poignant stories of his life –changing the environment of the Circle to a profound one. Law makers, prison commissioners, wardens, people affected by a crime and people incarcerated along with family members should have a moment in a Circle to tell their stories. Statistics and deficits should not shape the system that addresses harm in our society, but the stories of their lives.
Charito