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Restorative Justice
Statement of Purpose
The Restorative Justice Committee, formed
in November 2000, sees crime as primarily a violation of persons
(emphasizing repairing the harm that has been done), rather than the
law. Therefore, it promotes efforts to restore:
victims of crime to a sense of well
being, by giving them a voice;
offenders to responsible behavior, by
holding them accountable;
and neighborhoods and groups to a sense
of community.
It supports the
Community Conferencing Program of the Milwaukee County District
Attorney’s office, Peacemaking Circles in Milwaukee public and private
schools, the Milwaukee Safe Streets Project, Community Accountability
Circles, and other initiatives which build a sense of community and
prevent crime.
By representing
persons involved in these programs, the committee provides a
clearinghouse for information and opportunities for collaboration.
Through its Speakers Bureau and its members’ activities in the
community, it is promoting awareness and use of restorative practices in
our community.
In partnership with the Milwaukee District Attorney's office this
initiative seeks to reduce crime, restore relationships, and address
public policy in the area of criminal justice.
Volunteers recruited by the Conference participate in a process called
"Community Conferencing" that brings together the victim, offender, and
representative of the affected community to discuss the crime, agree on
restitution, and seek to restore relationships.
Restorative justice implies both process
and outcome and does not indicate a
particular program.
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Restorative Justice seeks to:
· Assess
the harm done by a criminal act
· Determine
what needs to be done to repair the harm.
· Hold
the offender accountable for his or her actions.
· Creates
better understanding on the part of the offender.
· Restorative
Justice has been described as a “revolution in criminal
justice.” (National Institute of Corrections, Zehr, 1997.)
For
more information call Rev. Roger Brooks at 414-355-9763
Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee
The Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee inspires kids to be
peacemakers! Through our Peacemakers’ Workshop, we offer 4th
and 5th grade students from Milwaukee County, its
suburbs, and beyond an opportunity to take control of their
lives and empower them to make healthy, nonviolent choices to
manage daily conflict.
Our five-hour workshop for classes helps build self-esteem and
confidence through cooperative games, role play, and small group
study. Our nature hike on the adjacent Koenen Land Preserve
offers the opportunity to examine our human connection to the
natural world in an urban setting.
During follow-up visits by our facilitators in the classroom,
called Booster Sessions, we reinforce skills and strategies
practiced at the Peacemakers’ Workshop. To help teachers
reinforce learning and implement strategies in the classroom, we
provide materials such as classroom posters and student
workbooks. We also provide ongoing professional support, as well
as staff in-services, wellness collaboration and speaking
engagements addressing nonviolence, inclusion, nonviolent
conflict resolution and restorative practice.
For additional information please see our website:
www.peacelearningcentermilwaukee.org |
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