now a wider group) about how trauma works not only in the individual but in society and then develop strategies to address those kinds of trauma.
Hard kind of justice
It seems understandable to address a victim’s trauma, but what about the offender’s needs? According to Les Davey, CEO of the Institute for Restorative Practice UK, RJ enables the offender to rehabilitate. “Labeling someone as ‘criminal’ is in no one’s best interest. No evidence shows that our traditional criminal justice system –locking people up and expecting them change their behavior upon release without some kind of intervention- is successful. Therefore we need to deal with leads to a wrongdoing in an intelliengeance, we gent manner.” but we need Does this mean that the offender gets off lightople under- ly? No, because RJ doesn’t their real aim to replace traditional nd what the criminal punishment. The y ways are to meetings between victims and offenders is an addise needs.” tion, but shouldn’t be taken lightly. Contrary to the pessimistic rhetoric that still dominates the public sphere, this method is not soft but in fact, some of the most difficult for an offender to have to face. Dr. Heather Strang agrees with this. As Director of the Centre for Restorative Justice at Australian University, she knows what she’s talking about. “I can tell you as a veteran observer of hundreds of these events, that almost all offenders would tell you they would much rather face the anonymity of the courtroom than the experience of being shut in a small room with the person they have harmed in a criminal event. It is a very difficult confronting experience to have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no lawyer, no social worker, no one to protect you from the kind of
anger victims can express in that setting.” While the dominant political and media discourse still tells us that considering alternatives to the current criminal justice system is a stupid and weak thing to do, the results of restorative justice practices around the world tell a different story. They show that in fact, when used alongside and within the current criminal justice system, they can make a tremendous impact in improving the future for victims and offenders. They’ve also indicated important strides in reducing incarceration levels, recidivism, and long term trauma for victims (and offenders). The politician aiming to gain the popular vote might still tout the importance of being tough on crime, building more prisons, and putting more police on the streets, as the answer to fixing crime statistics or the justice system. But the practice restorative justice is proving there is another way beyond just locking them up and throwing away the key. A way that not only looks good in terms of numbers, but that reaches out to victims who have been systematically left out of the process and left with a lifetime of trauma. There’s nothing soft about a victim and an offender coming face to face with each other, and there’s nothing weak about trying to heal a community wounded by crime. By Mark Rendeiro 35