Restorative justice program in our neighborhood
By Mike A. Lang
The East Side Restorative Justice Initiative (ESRJI) is working to make positive changes in how victims of certain crimes are treated. Typically, our system focuses on correcting the actions of the offender; it attempts to hold them accountable for their actions through punishment or retribution.
These practices don’t always offer the victims a sense of closure. It can leave them preoccupied with unanswered questions and feelings of fear. Restorative justice attempts to address these concerns by focusing on the victim.
In June of 2008, local resident and Metropolitan State University employee, Sage Holben, was a victim of fifth degree assault. In addition to a variety of injuries, the incident left her with a lot of questions. Addressing those questions, she tried the usual channels first, but found it difficult to get direct or immediate answers.
Finally, her connections within the community directed her to St. Paul’s Reconciliation Center. This group provided a form of restorative justice that helped Holben find some of the answers she needed. The opportunity to speak with the offender and ask questions provided some much needed closure. Holben’s arm still hurts, but thoughts about the incident no longer prevent her from sleeping. She was finally able to let it go.
This experience led Holben to get involved with the development of the ESRJI. This group is working to put together a formal system of restorative justice that is readily available to resident victims of certain crimes. Some of the potential crimes that could be addressed include noisy house parties, cars with booming speaker boxes, public urination and graffiti. The first stage will only include incidents involving adult offenders.
The Payne Phalen District Five Planning Council has been working on developing this program with assistance from Saint Paul Assistant City Attorney, Anthony Tedesco. They are also working with Restorative Justice Community Action, a restorative justice program in the city of Minneapolis.
The ESRJI is constructing a process that will be similar to the system used in Minneapolis. Referrals will come from the court system and local law enforcement. Issues will be addressed in a circle process that enables a forum for the offender to learn how his or her actions affected the community and gives the community an opportunity to address the offender. Facilitators are given a script that ensures all cases are treated the same, reducing subjectivity. In certain cases, this process might help determine what the consequences of the incident will be.
As members of the local community, Metropolitan State students and employees are welcome to become involved with this effort. For more information on the ESRJI program, contact the Payne Phalen District Five Planning Council. Their Web site is www.paynephalen.org. To learn more about Restorative Justice Community Action in Minneapolis, please visit their Web site at www.rjca-inc.org.
Reflecting on her experience with restorative justice, Sage says it was, “a great experience with a few weird results.” Hearing the offender’s side of the story provided some interesting and surprising revelations about the event. If you’d like to read more about Sage’s experience, you can visit her blog at walkonmyearth.blogspot.com.