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Step One - Referral
Step Two - Conferencing
Step Three - Contract
A restorative Justice
approach to crime allows victims of crimes to talk face-to-face with
the offender(s) and to resolve personal issues surrounding the
crime, including monetary damages. This process provides the
victims with a voice in the judicial process and offenders a chance
to repair the harm of their actions.
Step One
Referral
The Restorative Justice Conferencing process can
originate from five locations:
- Loveland Municipal
Court
- Loveland Police Department
- School District
- Community Members
- District Court
Each one of these
referrals takes place through a slightly different process. However, the
criteria for conferencing participation are the same:
- Offender has
admitted to guilt (parent and/or guardian of juvenile(s) willing to
attend).
- Victim and/or offender
agree to participate in a conference.
- There is a
reasonable expectation that a conference is a viable means of
reparation.
- The offender is
sincere in accepting responsibility.
- Victim and offender
agree upon the facts of the case.
- The victim will not
be re-victimized.
- The conference
setting will be safe.
- Everyone will be
treated fairly and with respect.
A conference is
scheduled and a facilitator assigned.
Step Two
Conferencing
The conferencing process gives victims a
voice -- a voice in the emotional harm created by the offender's
actions and the reparations needed to begin the process of
healing. Conferencing allows the offenders the opportunity to
humanize the crime (acknowledge the victim is a real person with
emotions), accept responsibility, and make meaningful choices for
reparation.
A conference may include many people; victims and their supporters, offender's and their supporters, a
trained facilitator, peer community members, and law enforcement
officers.
Step Three
Contract Fulfillment
A written agreement / contract is mutually agreed
upon at the conclusion of the conference. The contract must
be filled prior to court date.
If the contract is not completed, the matter is referred back to the
judicial system. In many cases, if the
contact is completed, charges are dismissed.
"...we have learned that many crime survivors
ultimately do not want vengeance -- rather, they want
answers, interaction, confrontation,
healing and closure. They want consequences conductive to
restoration."
Nothey
© 2003, City of Loveland, Colorado |
