One of the most difficult journeys for a family is that of living through the incarceration and re-entry of one of its members.  It is challenging to know how to hold a loving place for a person who has made a mistake particularly when the consequences negatively impact so many people.  Over the last few decades, courageous people have broken the silence and shame often associated with these experiences and looked to find better supports for family members.  One of the most remarkable sources of information comes from a coalition of people who work with these families and members of the families themselves.  If you are interested in more information check out Family and Corrections Network at www.fcnetwork.org and consider supporting their work.

It is generally understood that intack family systems can be the greatest mutual asset to one another during these times but the strain can take its toll.  In some instances the pressures can overwhelm children to the point of later becoming involved in the criminal justice system themselves.  Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) has developed numerous trainings which can strengthen members of the family and their supporters.  In particular, CJP’s STAR (Seminars on Trauma Awareness and Resilience) are highly recommended if one is committed to finding ways to address trauma, break cycles of violence and help support personal and social transformation.  If you are interested in more information check out the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding’s website at www.emu.edu/cjp.

Posted by christa at 9:52 PM | No Comments »
Filed under: Criminal Justice

Calls from Home, now in its 9th year, is a national radio program that allows family members of prisoners to speak over the airwaves to their incarcerated loved ones. Produced in the coalfields of central Appalachia, Calls from Home reaches a national network of prisoners, their loved ones and public listeners through community radio in an effort to educate the public about the criminal justice system.
You can listen to a 13-minute snippet of Calls From Home here, or learn more at www.thousandkites.org.

Posted by dylan at 11:40 PM | 1 Comment »
Filed under: Criminal Justice

While attending Maryland’s Second Restorative Justice Conference: Opportunities for Impact, I had the fortune to hear Anne Seymour present on ‘Victim-Focused Restorative Justice.’  Ms. Seymour spoke compellingly on behalf of restorative justice as a powerful tool for victim’s healing and re-empowerment.  Restorative justice is not a new idea for victims’ advocates.  Ms. Seymour has served as a consultant to Illinois’ efforts to establish the Balanced and Restorative Justice Project.  She is cofounder and Senior Advisor to Justice Solutions out of Washington, DC; and serves on numerous advisory boards.

Having Anne Seymour give her presentation to restorative justice advocates in Virginia is now on my 2009 ‘wish list.’  Ms. Seymour is confident that restorative practices will regain needed support in the years to come given the administration’s commitments to community safety reforms.  The United States Department of Justice’s website has had information on restorative justice since 1997.  Having 30 years to work its way through communities and academia, the modern restorative justice movement has been building momentum.  Listening to Anne Seymour’s presentation gave me renewed confidence that we are on the right track.

Posted by christa at 8:59 PM | No Comments »
Filed under: Restorative Justice

WBAL TV in Baltimore did a story on the International Institute of Restorative Practices’s One Day Conference for educators on Tuesday, November 18th in Baltimore.  Click the link below for the video.

Schools To Try “Talking Out” Student Problems

Posted by dylan at 1:23 PM | No Comments »
Filed under: Education, Media Coverage, Restorative Practices

A New York Times article from Saturday describes a deteriorating public defender system in which offices are refusing to take on new cases or suing to limit them.  Increasing caseloads and decreasing budgets are forcing public defenders to juggle dozens of cases, resulting in inadequate representation for their clients.

Citing Workload, Public Defenders Reject New Cases

Posted by dylan at 9:56 PM | No Comments »
Filed under: Criminal Justice