NCJ Number
161313
Date Published
1996
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Family group conferences were used for eight young Aboriginal offenders and their families in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1993.
Abstract
The convenor of the conference was an Aboriginal graduate student who also consulted with families about incorporating culturally appropriate practices into the family group conference process. The six males and two females ranged from 13 to 17 years of age. Three were charged with theft, one with housebreaking, one with possessing a weapon, and three with violent offenses. Five of the youths had prior court records. All the youths had committed more than one offense; the number of charges ranged from 2 to 33. The families decided on the meeting place. They usually chose their home or a community location rather than a government office. The family usually took responsibility for arranging the participation of immediate and extended family members. Families also invited an elder or spiritual advisor. Participants assembled into a sharing circle and passed a stone or talking stick around the circle to give everyone the opportunity to participate. Participants and professionals developed a plan for presentation to the court. The plans all included a cultural component. An attorney and at least one parent or guardian accompanied each youth to court. Five youths received alternatives to custody. The courts largely ignored the families' recommendations regarding cultural components, community service, and other programs. The cases revealed that families were able to reach consensus, although victim participation was less frequent than expected and judges largely ignored the families' recommendations. Nevertheless, the experience suggests that family group conferences are a viable approach and should receive further testing.