NCJ Number
224627
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 1435-1463
Date Published
December 2004
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This article discusses a collaborative effort in Pima County, AZ, on expanding community response to sex crimes.
Abstract
The article summarizes empirical data on problems in criminal justice response, defines restorative justice models, and examines outcome. The RESTORE program processes and goals in Pima County, AZ, are also described. The article highlights community collaboration in building and sustaining this program. Problems in criminal justice system response to date-acquaintance rape and nonpenetration sexual offenses include: that these offenses are markers of a sexual offending career yet are viewed as minor; that perpetrators are not held accountable in ways that reduce reoffending; and that the criminal justice response disappoints and traumatizes victims. To address these problems, a collaboration of victim services, prosecutors, legal scholars, and public health professionals are implementing and evaluating RESTORE, a victim-driven, community-based restorative justice program for selected sex crimes. RESTORE prepares survivors, responsible persons (offenders), and both parties’ families and friends for face-to-face dialogue to identify the harm and develop a remediation plan. The program then monitors the offender’s compliance for 12 months. This article is based on a paper presented at “Toward a National Research Agenda on Violence Against Women” in 2003. References