Working
Priorities
Background
The Commission on Restorative Justice
recognizes that our criminal justice system can
often be nothing more than a punitive,
blame-placing institution. As a result, it
frequently substitutes outdated models of
punishment for genuine offender accountability.
Often the system fails the person who was
directly harmed and does little for the person
who offended. In this process, little is done to
repair the delicate fabric of community which
has been affected by criminal and
anti-social events.
Often the adversarial system leaves additional
human loss: family members and friends
(of both offenders and victims) need more than
what they usually receive. Offenders are not
able to take responsibility for their actions
and community members lose faith in the criminal
justice system.
The Restorative Justice Commission believes that
our communities must implement more lasting,
more meaningful and more healing responses to
wrongdoing. We also recognize that there are
many ways to ameliorate the harsh and unfair
conditions of the current criminal justice
system. For now, the Commission will focus on
transformative education and action.
Goals
The Commission seeks to educate about
restorative justice in a wide variety of
situations and in collaboration with others who
share our values.
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Our primary goal is to educate the
people of our 14-county diocese in the
techniques
of restorative justice.
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Our secondary goal is to support
already existing programs which demonstrate
restorative justice in action.
Educational Priorities And Tasks
1. We will develop a
Restorative Justice Speakers Bureau to educate
parishes, schools and communities about the
theory and techniques of restorative justice.
2. We will train all Commission members in the
use of restorative justice techniques. We will
also train trainers.
3. We will publish a regular column on
restorative justice in The Evangelist.
4. We will provide educational material about
restorative justice.
5. We will provide parishes with prepared texts
which can be included in parish bulletins and
prayers which can be used in worship.
6. We will assist people in developing ministry
programs. Opportunities for direct service might
include the following:
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Programs of treatment and healing for persons
who have been victimized
and persons who have caused harm
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Programs that support crime victims.
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Programs that support returning prisoners
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Furniture redistribution programs.
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Parish-based groups for victims and offenders
to engage in constructive dialogue.
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Alternatives to incarceration programs.
Advocacy
1. We will assist
people in advocating for restorative justice.
Opportunities might include:
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Advocating for funding for programs that
will assist prisoners with re-entry to the
community.
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Advocating for programs that will enable
victims and offenders to gain better
psychological and spiritual health.
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Advocating for programs to improve housing and
transitional opportunities for those victimized
and parolees.
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Supporting the State Bishops public policy
positions on drug sentencing laws and the
death penalty.
