WILLIAMSVILLE — Vermont has been a national leader in the successful use of restorative justice in the adjudication of non-violent offenses. Restorative practices are not only effective, but they are economical as well.
With restorative justice, the offender repairs the harm he or she has caused so the victim receives personalized redress. Furthermore, the process establishes relationships that connect the offender to his or her community. People connected to community are less likely to reoffend.
Economy is two-fold. First, offenders sentenced to reparative parole don't go to jail, a huge savings right from the start; locking people up is very expensive. Second, the Reparative Panel is comprised of trained volunteers.
For the past five years, I've been one of those volunteers, serving on a Reparative Parole Board at the Brattleboro Community Justice Center. My commitment is only two hours a month, but they are an incredible two hours, filled with amazing stories where offenders take responsibility for their wrongdoing and where victims explain how they have been affected and how that harm can be repaired.
When successful, this process of personal narrative leads to reparation: the offender contracts to repair the harm done in a variety of creative ways, always individualized to fit the crime, and the victim receives satisfaction, not retribution.
But restorative justice affects more than the victim and the offender; it affects the entire community by its building social capital through relationships. And those of us who volunteer are beneficiaries of the process, too.
In the course of my service, I've learned how to listen better, how to resolve conflict better, and how to be more compassionate. I've also seen firsthand how important each of us is in upholding community standards and promoting the common good.
The BCJC is offering a two-part training later this month, on April 23 and April 24, from 5:30 to 8:30 at BCJC, in Suite 302 of the Municipal Building at 230 Main St.
I urge those who want to participate in meaningful volunteer work to consider serving our community on a Reparative Parole Board.
To learn more, contact Jackie Trepanier at 802-251-8141 or j[email protected].