THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 22, 1996 TAG: 9604220040
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Assigning first-time juvenile lawbreakers to neighborhood community service is part of a ``restorative justice'' philosophy, says Kevin Moran, Norfolk's court services director.
In restorative justice, Moran said, the focus of being held accountable shifts from passively taking punishment, such as being fined or sent to a detention center or jail, to actively making amends - either to individual victims or communities.
``It's essentially a different way of looking at crime and justice,'' said Rachel Lipkin, assistant director of the Center for Restorative Justice & Mediation at the University of Minnesota. ``It focuses on the crime committed by a person against another person. . . rather than looking at crime as something committed against the state.
``It's a way of elevating the victim's voice, a way for the community to participate and a way for offenders to take responsibility for the harm they've done and repair that harm.''
In some localities, including Chesapeake, citizen advisory boards recommend the type of community service for young offenders. In Vermont, victims are included on such panels.
Norfolk hopes to expand its juvenile community service program to be more in line with the restorative justice philosophy, Moran said.
For example, victims could help determine the type of service assigned to young lawbreakers, especially in misdemeanor and nonviolent cases.
Sometimes, offenders can be assigned to do chores for the victim.
``This option would be totally at the discretion of the victim,'' Moran said. ``Obviously, there are cases where we wouldn't do this, such as in a serious felonious wounding.
``And there will be victims who will say, `I don't want anything to do with this kid. It's scary. I don't want him coming over to my house. . . . But there will be others who will want it.''
Victims who don't want to be involved with offenders can chose community service projects that help charities or neighborhoods.
``We could go to the victim and say, `We're going to recommend 50 hours of community service for the offender. Do you have a preference in where he or she does community service? ' '' Moran said. ``They can say, `My favorite charity is the SPCA or my favorite charity is King's Daughters hospital.''
The victim may select a neighborhood civic league.
Restorative justice often requires classes aimed at improving life skills, such as values clarification, anger control and nonviolent conflict resolution. Often, the teens must write apologies to their victims and essays about the impact of their crimes.
``They have to be held responsible in giving back to the community,'' said Lori VanHorn, director of Chesapeake's Juvenile Conference Committees, which is made up of citizen volunteers.
``Getting (juvenile offenders) involved in the community is a better way of doing it,'' VanHorn said. ``And when we send them back to the stores or victim to apologize, it's the hardest thing for them to do. . . . So it has a great deal of impact on them.''
Experts like Lipkin say the skills classes and service are important. Lawbreakers not only restore the harm they've done but also begin to restore themselves as constructive members of the community, she said.
One of Lipkin's favorite programs is in Pittsburgh, where juvenile offenders grow crops to learn gardening skills but also help feed the homeless.
``Without community,'' she said, ``there can't be restorative justice.'' MEMO: Main story on page B1.
KEYWORDS: JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM JUVENILE DELINQUENTS
JUVENILE CRIMINALS CRIME VICTIMS
COMMUNITY SERVICE by CNB