Very analogous to the two-tier system we 'enjoy' today - one form of justice for the rich and the corporations, as opposed to the other one that serves the rest of us. After having partaken for a number of years in various venues, what's your take on restorative justice? Does it have merit? If so, what exactly?
Without knowing it at the time, the Peer Jury program really encapsulated the concept of restorative justice in two ways. I don't recall it ever being explicitly discussed, but the goal in large part was a healing process by feeling remorse and, ideally, by empathy for others garnered through their volunteer work. In addition, the Peer Jury process was similar, in some ways, to the Peace Circle, in that the rationale of having local peers on the jury instead of an adult judge no one could relate to was to create a non-hierarchy. And similar to the Peace Circle, we really strove to listen to the perpetrator, and refrained from lecturing or shaming.
I do believe restorative justice has great merit. I believe individuals should be treated with respect, given opportunities for reform, and like many conflicts, small and large, there is often a lot of commonality between people on both sides and that true listening can be extremely effective towards positive change. I also greatly appreciate the focus on prevention--In the U.S., we spend far too much time and money on punishment rather than on setting people up for success.
I couldn't agree more. So, now as a Peer Jury grad, how do you spend your time? Where has your career path led you?
Well, I am a clinical psychologist by training but I spend most of my time chasing my one-year old son around our apartment. I am actually returning to work next week after a year long break to raise my son.
Good luck with that! Anything you'd like to add before we wrap this up?
Just thanks to you for the interview.
Thank you, Ilana. Good luck with your return to work. It was a pleasure speaking with you.
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Bob Koehler on Justice with Healing at Its Core 6/23/14
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