NCJ Number
177688
Date Published
1997
Length
208 pages
Annotation
This volume explains the growth and development of family conferencing in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States and explains the principles and practical aspects of using this approach.
Abstract
The book presents case examples and accounts of the face-to-face meetings of victims, offenders, and their families to address the harm done to victims and the community. The cases involve shoplifting, vandalism, bullying, arson, and other offenses. The text explains the differences between the restorative justice principles that underlie family conferencing and the current criminal justice systems and school discipline systems. It notes that restorative justice defines an offense as the harm done to a person or the community, focuses on solving problems and repairing the harm, encourages the offender to take responsibility, and defines accountability as demonstrating empathy and helping repair the harm. It also removes the stigma of crime through appropriate actions by the offender, encourages repentance and forgiveness, relies on the direct involvement of the persons affected rather than on professionals, and encourages the free expression of emotion. The author concludes that initiative in supporting the development of conferencing in schools, workplaces, youth organizations, and the criminal justice system. 6 references