Restorative Justiceand Reentry: The Indiana

Restorative Reentry Initiative

“The problem of crime cannot be simplified to the problem of the criminal”

-Leslie Wilkins

Traditional Reentry Approach

Parole&

Aftercare

OffenderNeeds

OffenderRisks

TreatmentRemedialPrograms

Surveillance Monitoring

Lehman et al. (2002:2)

“Perhaps it is time for us to move away from what is seen as another ‘offender-centered approach to one that is by definition more clearly victim-, community-, and harm-centered.”

The Three “R’s” of Reentry

1) Reparative Justice

- Offender Accountability

- Victim Needs

- Community Healing

The Three “R’s” of Reentry

2) Relationships

- Informal Social Control

- Social Support

- Social Capital

Making reentry “desistance-focused” (Maruna et al., 2004)

Relationships: Strengthen ‘Concentric Circles of Support’ (Travis, 2005)

Returning Prisoner

Family

Peer Group

Community Institutions

Service Providers

Criminal JusticeAgencies

The Three “R’s” of Reentry

3) Responsibility

- All stakeholders have a responsibility

- Offenders: Make things right; Not reoffend

- Communities: Allow offenders opportunity to show remorse/repair harm

- Agencies: Allow offender opportunity to admit wrongdoing/make reparations; Address victim needs

Promising Approach: Restorative Justice

Common definition:

A process whereby all the parties with a stake in a particular offense come

together to resolve collectively how to deal with the aftermath of the offense and its implications for the future.

Goals of Restorative Conference

Hold offender accountable Promote victim’s voice Teach offender consequences of act

(empathy) Strengthen social bonds Restore offender Restore victim Restore community “Earned redemption”

What do we Know about RJ?

Victims are satisfied with process Offenders are satisfied with process In some situations, reduces reoffending May be most effective with serious offenses

-Sherman and Strang (2007)

Research Gap: RJ and Reentry

Most of what we know: Diversionary programs Low-risk or juvenile offenders Minor offenses

Very little research: Post-sentence RJ

No systematic evaluations: In-prison RJ

Indiana Restorative Reentry Initiative Multi-year, DOJ funded, study of face-to-face

restorative conferencing with adult offenders nearing their release from prison.

Research Question: Does restorative conferencing facilitate a more successful return to the community for offenders leaving prison?

Sample

Adult inmates Incarcerated at the Plainfield Reentry

Educational Facility (PREF) Application facility Serving final 6-24 months of sentence

http://www.in.gov/idoc/2404.htm Violent, property, drug offenses

Methodology: Randomized Experiment Goal: 300 participants (150 in each

condition) by end of 2010. Measures:

Pre- and post-surveys Attitudinal scales (empathy, legitimacy of justice

system, empowerment, etc.) Positive adjustment (social bonds, housing,

employment, etc.) Victim healing

Official records Re-arrest, re-conviction, re-incarceration

RJ Process

1) Orientation at intake

2) Offender sign-up (voluntary)

3) One-on-one meeting

- eligible?

- discuss nature of study

- consent, pre-survey

4) Contact victim, family members

- consent, pre-survey

5) Randomization

1) Control Group: post-surveys; refer to other programs

2) Experimental Group: schedule, prepare for conference

6) Conference

7) Follow-up

- post-conference interview; post-release surveys

Conferencing Model

International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Formerly ‘Real Justice’

Three Phases1) What happened?

2) How were people affected?

3) What needs to be done to make things right? Ends with ‘reintegration ceremony’

Travis (05) – Promote Successful Reintegration

Outcomes

Randomization began July, 2009 12 cases

18 months of previous piloting 42 conferences

Offender Narratives

Audio

A Victim’s Story

Video

Institutional Feedback

“The RJ program has provided an avenue to make amends not only with their victims but with themselves for their mistakes. This program accentuates the essence of forgiveness and understanding, and has helped transform the campus environment at PREF.”

Mike Lloyd – Reentry Director, Indiana Department of Correction

- Former Superintendent (PREF)

“RJ is a great addition to the reentry process at PREF. I’ve heard testimonies from residents…and it seems to give them a sense of closure. It benefits the residents in many ways and allows them to begin the next chapter of their lives.”

Latoya Lane – Acting Superintendent

“Restorative justice is a transformational program for residents in reentry. It has allowed them an opportunity to learn the ramifications of their offenses and begin the healing process.”

Mia Black – Unit Team Manager

Feedback cont.

“This program provides the residents here at PREF and their victims/families an opportunity to become responsible for their past actions and to move on with their lives in a positive and productive manner.”

Joel Schopmeyer – Instructor

“Being able to attend Restorative Justice meetings has been an incredible experience for me to learn more about how an offender’s crime affects so many people in addition to the direct victim.  I think this program is an excellent resource for victims and the offenders to begin the healing process. “       

Elizabeth Slavens - Counselor

Feedback cont.

“When I first heard about the restorative justice program, I did not think that it would benefit the criminal justice system, the inmate, or the victims of crimes. I was a non supporter of the program until I sat in on a conference with a resident that had been incarcerated for over thirty years. He had a conference with his family that he had not contacted in over ten years. He was able to reconnect with his family and make amends with the people he had hurt with his crime. I think that the restorative justice program is a great asset to the resident’s reentry. It should be an intensive part of the resident’s release and every inmate should take advantage of the program. I have seen great transformation in the residents who have participated in the restorative justice program.”

Miranda Weliver – Counselor