Fall  2014      

 

Circles  of  Support  and  Accountability    

Pilot  project  in  Multnomah  County  provides  a  road  map  for                        sex  offenders  to  re-­‐integrate  into  the  community  while  working  toward  the  primary  goal:  no  more  victims.    Pages  2-­‐3  

Editor’s  Tip:    Looking  for  more  insights  and  perspectives  on  restorative  justice?  Check  out  Howard  Zehr's  blog  with  regular  posts  from  Howard  Zehr  and  guest  bloggers.    

Learning  from  Oregon  Practitioners:  RJCO  Listening  Project  RJCO   is   excited   to   present   a   preview   of   the   coalition’s   first   state-­‐wide   listening  project   aiming   to   find   out   how   to   best   serve   the   needs   of   RJ   practitioners   in  Oregon.     To   complete   this   project,   RJCO   is   working   with   conflict   resolution  graduate   students   and   staff   from   Portland   State   University   and   University   of  Oregon.    The  project  will  be  conducted  in  three  major  parts,  starting  in  November  2014  with  anticipated  completion  by  June  2015.      

Step  one:  A  survey  will  be  disseminated   in  electronic  form  to  the  widest  possible  selection  of  RJ  practitioners   in  OR,  collecting  demographic  information  and  asking  questions   such   as;  What  would   be   the  most   valuable   functions   that   RJCO  might  provide   to   help   practitioners   in   the   state?   Which   barriers   could   a   professional  organization  help  your  program  overcome?      Step   two:  Focus  groups  will  be  convened  utilizing  the  volunteers  elicited  through  the  survey.      

Step   three:   Interviews   will   be   conducted   with   core   group   members   about   the  priorities   identified   in   the   focus  groups   in  order   to   identify   strategies  and   tactics  for  moving  forward.    The  research  report  will  aggregate  and  present  the  findings  from  each  phase  of  the  research   and   present   conclusions   and   recommendations.   Please   stay   tuned   for  more  details  about  the  listening  project.  If  you  would  like  more  information,  please  contact  us  at  rjco.info@gmail.com.      

RJCO  Quarterly  Restorative  Justice  News  for  Practitioners    

In  this  Issue  

Page  1     RJCO  Listening  Project  Introduction  

Page  2    

Mediation  Works:  VOD  Outcomes    

Page  4     Thinking  for  Change:  Restorative  Justice  in  Polk  County    

Page  6    

Circles  of  Support  and  Accountability    

Recommended  Reading  

Page  5     Restorative  Peer  Courts:    Center  for  Dialogue  and  Resolution    

 To  join  the  RJCO  Quarterly  mailing  list,  click  here!  

 

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Fall  2014    

     

Worst   of   the   worst.     That’s  how   some   people   think   of  sex   offenders.   And   there   is  no   denying   that   sexual  violence  is  among  the  worst  crimes   humans   commit.    But  we  are  learning  that  the  isolation   many   sex  offenders   face   in   the  

community  can   increase   their   risk  of   returning   to   their  criminal   behavior   from   before   prison,   which   doesn’t  keep  anyone  safer.  

Early  this  year,  Ecumenical  Ministries  of  Oregon   (EMO)  and   Multnomah   County   embarked   on   a   collaborative  proposal   to   serve   sex   offenders   returning   to   the  Portland  area   from  Oregon  Department   of   Corrections  facilities.   They   set   about   to   create   Circles   of   Support  and   Accountability   (CoSA)   in   Oregon   to   provide   more  community   support   for   offenders   reentering   society.    The  hope  of  all  involved  partners  is  to  reduce  recidivism  and  achieve  the  CoSA  mission:  no  more  victims.    

History  of  CoSA  

Twenty   years   ago   in  Ontario,   Canada,   a  Mennonite   pastor  was   contacted   by  prison   officials   to  

help   support   a   high-­‐risk   sex   offender   being   released  into   the   community.   The   offender   had   attended   his  church   once   or   twice   years   earlier;   the   pastor   didn’t  quite   remember  him,  but   the  offender  had  mentioned  him  as  the  only  person  on  the  “outside”  who  might  help  him.   Realizing   the   man   would   be   returning   to   the  community   and   concerned   about   his   reoffending,   the  pastor   organized   a   small   group   of   volunteers   who  successfully   supported   the   offender,   alongside  correctional   officers   and   service   and   health  professionals.   The   man   did   not   re-­‐offend   through   the  rest  of  his  life,  and  CoSA  was  officially  launched.  

 

 

Circles  of  Support  and  Accountability:  Friendship  beyond  Prison  Walls  Pilot  CoSA  Program  Launches  in  Multnomah  County        By  Rev.  Audrey  deCoursey,  CoSA  Program  Coordinator  

 

The  hope  of  all  the  involved  partners  is  to  reduce  recidivism  and  achieve  the  CoSA  mission:  no  more  victims  

Since   then,   the   program   has   been   replicated   in   cities  across   Canada,   the  United  Kingdom,   the  Netherlands,  and  the  United  States,  including  in  Vermont,  California,  Colorado,   Minnesota,   Pennsylvania,   North   Carolina,  and  Washington.  Studies   have   shown  recidivism   rates  decline   by   over   70   percent,   while   volunteers   enjoy  meaningful  service  and  core   members   report  gratitude  for  the  social  support   they   might  never   have   found  otherwise.    Throughout  its    development,  CoSA    has  retained  its    community-­‐based  approach.  Also  central  to  its  success  is  strong  faith-­‐based  support,  even  though  the  content  is  not  religious  or  from  a  particular  faith  tradition.  The  program   follows   a   restorative   justice  model,  with   the  goal  of  healing  both  individuals  and  a  community  after  violence.  The  vision  of  CoSA  is  that  sex  offenses  are  not  just  private  matters,  they  are  community  matters,  and  communities  can  and  need  to  play  a  role  in  decreasing  future  victimization.      

The  power  of  community  support    

The   transition  from  prison  back  into  a  community   is  a  time   of   great   stress   and   adjustment.   A   sex   offender  can   face   particular   challenges   upon   release,   such   as  finding   housing   and   employment,   exacerbated   by   a  serious,  public  criminal  record  that  makes  many  people  wary   of   hiring   a   sex   offender   or   having   him  move   to  their  neighborhood.      In   addition,   his   social   connections   have   often   been  severed   by   his   offenses   and   length   of   incarceration.  Criminal   justice   research   identifies   key   factors   that  contribute   to   the   risk   of   reoffending,   including   low  social   support,  criminal  peers  and  associates,  negative  attitudes,  and  isolation.      

Criminal  justice  research  identifies  key  factors  that  contribute  to  the  risk  of  reoffending,  including  low  social  support,  criminal  peers  and  associates,  negative  attitudes,  and  isolation.  

Continued  on  page  3      

 

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Fall  2014    

Continued  from  page  2      

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Circles   of   Support   and  Accountability   help   reduce   risk  in   concrete   ways   by   offering   the   core   member  (offender)   healthy   relationships   with   people   without  criminal   histories,   pro-­‐social   leisure   skills,   attitudes   of  hope,  and  a  source  of  purpose  to  work  toward  outside  of  prison.  

Volunteers  who  form  the  inner  circle  are  provided  with  extensive  training  about  sex  offenders  and  boundaries.  They   come   from   diverse   faiths   and   backgrounds,   but  together   they   model   healthy   relationships   and  socialization  for  the  core  member.  

Volunteers   from   the   community   are   organized   into  circles   that   meet   regularly   with   the   core   member  during   the   first   year   out   of   prison.   Circles   provide   a  forum   for   the   core   member   to   discuss   his   unique  challenges   upon   re-­‐entry,   from   securing   employment  to   encouragement   to   stay   with   treatment   plans.      These   seemingly   simple   interactions   help   break   down  

social   isolation   and   enhance  community   engagement,   to  reduce   the   risk   of   re-­‐offending.    

While   other   criminal   risk  factors   —   like   substance  abuse,   unemployment,   and  lack   of   housing—are   not  issues   CoSA   addresses  directly,   inner   circle  volunteers  support  their  core  member   emotionally   as   he  

works   through   these   struggles.   The   inner   circle   of  offender   and   volunteers   is   supported   in   turn   by   an  outer  circle  of  professionals  who  address  needs  beyond  the   scope   of   the   circle.   The   outer   circle—including  parole   officers,   counselors,   faith   leaders,   recovery  sponsors,   prison   chaplains,   and   housing   advocates—provides   links   to   services   that   offenders   need   as   they  transition  out  of  prison.    

At   the   heart   of   CoSA   is   a   testimony   to   the   power   of  healthy   relationships,   which   can   transform   lives,  strengthen  communities,  and  help  keep  our  vulnerable  members   safer.   You   are   invited   to   join   Ecumenical  Ministries   of   Oregon   in   this   new   program,   working  

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toward   our   goal   of   creating   communities  with  no  more  victims.    

Get  involved  in  a  circle  

At  the  heart  of  the  CoSA  mission  is  breaking  the  cycles  of  abuse  and  violence.  As  part  of  the  new  CoSA  program  in  Oregon,  we  are  recruiting  volunteers  to  join  CoSA  circles.  This   sort   of   volunteering   is   not   easy   and   not   for  everyone,   but   it   is   life-­‐changing,   healing,   essential   work  for  those  who  are  ready  to  embrace  the  challenge.      

Volunteers  are  placed  into  teams  of  four  to  six  volunteers  and   matched   with   a   core   member,   who   participates  voluntarily.     Once   the   circle   is   developed,   ongoing  meetings  begin  through  the  core  member’s  first  year  out  of  prison.  As  an  EMO  staff  member,  I  (Audrey)  coordinate  the   Circles   and   support   volunteers   in   their   service.   The  CoSA  Oregon  program  employs  the  consultation  support  of  internationally-­‐recognized  CoSA  experts,  psychologists  Dr.  Robin  Wilson  and  Andrew  McWhinnie.    

As   testified   throughout   the   increasingly   global   CoSA  network,   appropriate,   healthy   friendship   can   transform  lives.     Many   people   have   no   trouble   forming   healthy,  mature   relationships   with   their   peers,   but   for   some  offenders   that   sort   of   relationship-­‐building   takes   more  intentionality.  A  circle  may  be  the  only  place  they  contact  people  who  care  about   them  and  aren’t  paid  to  be  with  them.   The   power   of   these   relationships   is   amazing,  leading   people   to   discover   meaning   and   purpose,  without  resorting  to  the  criminal  behaviors  of  their  past.    

To  learn  more  about  CoSA  Oregon  contact  Audrey  deCoursey  at   (503)   988-­‐8580   or   cosa@emoregon.org   and   visit   our  website  at  http://www.CoSAOregon.org.  

 

 

 

 

At  the  heart  of  CoSA  is  a  testimony  to  the  power  of  healthy  relationships,  which  can  transform  lives,  strengthen  communities,  and  help  keep  our  vulnerable  members  safer.  

 

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Fall  2014    

Innovative  curriculum  helps  youth  take  control  of  their  lives  by  learning  more  effective  ways  of  thinking.      

By  Ken  Braun,    Executive  Director  Community  Mediation  Services  for  Polk  County      Over   the   last   six   decades,   cognitive   behavioral  theories   and   interventions   have   been   introduced,  researched,   and   applied   in   various   human   services  fields,  including  corrections  and  juvenile  justice.  A  clear  body   of   evidence   has   emerged   to   show   that   these  interventions  positively   impact   individuals,  helping  to  create   change   in   both   thinking   and   behavior.   In   the  corrections  field  the  targeted  behavior  is  a  reduction  in  reoffending,   and   cognitive   behavioral   interventions  have  been  found  to  be  an  evidence-­‐based  practice  for  

achieving   this   goal   by  researchers   and  practitioners  alike.  

This   program   combined  cognitive   restructuring  theory   with   cognitive  skills   theory   to   create   an  

innovative  and  integrated  curriculum  designed  to  help  individuals  take  control  of  their   lives  by   learning  more  effective  ways  of  thinking.    Thinking   for   a  Change  has  been   the   subject   of   many   studies   and   has   routinely  proven   to   be   effective   in   reducing   recidivism   when  implemented   with   integrity   by   adhering   to   the  recommended   lesson   plans   and   methods   of  instruction.      

The   three   components   of   Thinking   for   a   Change   are:  cognitive   self-­‐change,   social   skills,   and   problem  solving   skills.   All   three   components   are   defined   as   a  set  of  skills  that  can  readily  be  detailed  by  the  various  steps   required   to  accomplish   the  skill.    Cognitive   self-­‐change  teaches  individuals  a  concrete  process  for  self-­‐reflection   aimed   at   uncovering   antisocial   thoughts,  feelings,  attitudes,  and  beliefs.    

Social   skills   instruction   prepares   group   members   to  engage   in   pro-­‐social   interactions   based   on   self-­‐understanding  and  consideration  of  the  impact  of  their  actions  on  others.  

Thinking  for  a  Change  (T4C)  –  An  Overview

 

 

Problem   solving   skills   integrates   the   two   previous  interventions  to  provide  group  members  with  an  explicit  step-­‐by-­‐step   process   for   addressing   challenging   and  stressful  real  life  situations.  

Community  Mediation  Services  for  Polk  County  (formerly  known   as   the   Victim   Offender   Reconciliation   Program)  has  partnered  with  the  Polk  County  Juvenile  Department  to   offer   a   bare   bones   understanding   of   the   program  including   basic   communication   skills   to   the   parents   of  the  youth  involved  with  the  T4C  program.  The  additional  component  for  the  parents  assists  them  in  working  with  their   youth   to   help   them   succeed,   not   only   in   the  completion   of   the   program,   but   in   successfully  integrating   the   learning   into   their   regular   decision-­‐making   and   behaviors.   Once   the   parents   understand  what   their   youth   are   being   asked   to   undertake,   they  become   partners   with   the   juvenile   officers   and   in   fact,  see  them  as  allies  instead  of  the  enemy.  

For  more   information   about   the  work   in   Polk   County,  Contact  Ken  Braun  at  vorpcmsfms@gmail.com.  

 

 

Thinking   for   a   Change  has  been  the  subject  of  many   studies   and   has  routinely   proven   to   be  effective   in   reducing  recidivism...  

 

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Fall  2014    

Peer  court  guides  youth  to  repair  harms  and  make  positive  choices    

Tim  McCabe,  Restorative  Justice  Programs  Manager  Center  for  Dialogue  and  Resolution      Innocent   until   proven   guilty   by   a   jury   of   one’s   peers.  This   is   the   basis   of   our   criminal   justice   system,   an  appropriate   and   just   forum   when   guilt   is   questioned.  Often   missing   from   this   equation,   however,   is   true  accountability,   especially   in   the   juvenile   court   system.  We  are  taught  not   to  admit  guilt   in  this   system,  which  results   in   our   not   taking   responsibility   for   the   crime.  Yet,   when   the   crime   is   committed,   it   is   not   only  committed  against  the  victim,  but  also  the  community.  

The   Center   for   Dialogue   and   Resolution   operates   the  Restorative   Peer   Court   (RPC)   where   youth   offenders  can  be  heard  by  a  “jury”  of  their  peers.  For  more   than  thirty   years,   CDR   has   been   a   driving   force   for  restorative   justice   in   Lane  County.   By   creating  a   space  to   heal   wounds   opened   by   crime,   restorative   justice  

empowers   victims,  offenders,   and   the  community   to   learn  about   the   impacts   of  crime   in   a   way   that   is  deeply   personal   and  effective.     Restorative  Justice   provides   the  opportunity   for   real  accountability   to   be  taken   within   processes  designed   to   meet   the  needs  of  those  involved.      

Even   in   its   infancy,   RPC   is   far   surpassing   expectations  with  juvenile  success  and  reduced  recidivism.  In  fact,  in  2004  Lane  County  Division  of  Youth  Services  completed  a   comparison   of   cases   that   involved   youth   court   and  those  that  did  not.    Youth  court  programs  both  reduce  crime  and  save  money.  A  Lane  County  report  from  2004  on  Youth  Courts  noted  that  the  efficacy  of  youth  courts  produced   over   $325,000   in   cost   savings   when  examining  the  probability  of  re-­‐offending.  

 

Restorative  Peer  Court:    Real  Justice  and  Accountability  for  Juveniles    

Focused  on  accountability,  RPC  is  based  on  indigenous  group  conferencing  models   including  Native  American  healing   circles   and  Maori   (New  Zealand)   family   group  conferencing  processes.  RPC  provides  offenders  with  a  process   that   encourages   frank   discussions   on   the  harms   of   one’s   actions   and   how   to   fix   those   harms.  Throughout   the   process,   we   often   see   a   dramatic  difference   in   a   teen’s   disposition   and   a   realization  that   they   have   both   the   support   and   the   tools   to  make  better  decisions.      

The  “jury”  or  peer  panelists  ask  open-­‐ended  questions  to  hear  about  what  happened,  who  was  impacted,  and  how  the  offender  can  mend  the  harms  of  their  actions.  Rather  than  fines  and  time  served,  teens  are  assigned  community   service,   apology   letters,   alcohol   and   drug  classes,   essays   or   projects,   or   parent/teen  mediation.  Moreover,   offenders   have   an   opportunity   to  participate  in  how  the  harms  can  be  mended.  

RPC  has   strengthened  community   ties   and  provided  a  much  needed  positive   peer   group   for   a   large  number  of  teens.  Aside  from  the  great  statistics,  RPC  is  helping  families.   One   mother   expressed   that   after   the   RPC  process   she   recognized   her   child   again,   that   this  process   has   empowered   her   daughter,   and   affected  the   whole   family   for   the   positive.     RPC   meets   kids  where  they  are  and  provides  valuable  opportunities  for  self-­‐improvement   and   in-­‐turn   creates   a   safer  community.  

For   more   information,   contact   Tim   McCabe   at  tim@communitymediationservices.com    

 

 

 

 

By  creating  a  space  to  heal  wounds  opened  by  crime,  restorative  justice  empowers  victims,  offenders,  and  the  community  to  learn  about  the  impacts  of  crime  in  a  way  that  is  deeply  personal  and  effective.      

 

 

Fall  2014          

Recommended  Reading  Restorative  Justice:  What  it  is  and  is  not    (article)  As  restorative  justice  gains  traction  in  schools  nationwide,  defining  what  is  -­‐  and  what  is  not  -­‐  restorative  justice  has  become  a  crucial  objective.    Rethinking  Schools  suggests  that  we  should  be  thoughtful  and  thorough  in  implementing  restorative  justice  policies  and  practices.        Walking  the  Talk:  Developing  Ethics  Frameworks  for  the  Practice  of  Restorative  Justice    (booklet)  Susan  Sharpe,  leading  academic  in  the  field  of  Restorative  Justice,  discusses  ethical  considerations  for  restorative  justice  practitioners  and  organizations.        Just  Schools:  A  Whole  School  Approach  to  Restorative  Justice  by  Belinda  Hopkins    (book)  In  this  practical  handbook  for  educators,  Belinda  Hopkins  presents  a  whole  school  approach  to  repairing  harm  using  a  variety  of  means  including  peer  mediation,  healing  circles  and  conference  circles.    The  book  includes  guidance  for  group  sessions  and  examines  issues  and  ideas  relating  to  practical  skill  development  for  facilitators.        

Positive  Impacts  Mediation  Works  Tallies  Participant  Experiences  

Upcoming  Training  

Resolutions  Northwest  Presents:  Artful  Facilitation  for  

Productive,  Inclusive  Groups  

December  8-­‐10,  2014  

2½-­‐day   workshop   for   facilitators,  managers,   community   leaders   and  advocates.   Training   includes   how   to  understand,   design   for   and   manage  group  dynamics  by  grounding  the  work  in  themes  of  inclusion,  connection  and  clarity  of  purpose.  

For  more  information,  click  here    

 

Mediation  Works   has   been  working   in   partnership  with   Southern  Oregon  University’s  Criminology  Department  since  2009  to   look  at  the  efficacy  and   impact  of  the  restorative  justice  processes  on  youth  offenders  and  their  victims.  Topics  such  as  perceived  levels  of  satisfaction,   equity,   restoration,   and   shifts   in   attitude   are   being   evaluated   through   pre-­‐program,   post-­‐program,   and   follow   up   surveys.   Of   the   95   victim   surveys   and   197   youth  offender  surveys  that  have  been  collected,  the  current  data  shows  :    

Participant  Satisfaction  

·∙                  94%  of  victims  and  90%  of  youth  offenders  were  satisfied  with  the  process  ·∙                  95%  of  youth  offenders  would  recommend  this  process  to  others  and  98%  of  victims  would  choose  to  participate                      again  if  they  had  to  do  it  over.    Perception  of  Justice  

·∙                  95%  of  victims  said  that  dialogues  make  the  justice  process  more  responsive  to  their  needs.  ·∙                  93%  of  youth  offenders  said  that  having  the  opportunity  to  meet  with  their  victim  made  the  justice  system  better.      Victim  Impact  

·∙                  98%  of  victims  said  that  the  dialogue  allowed  them  to  express  their  feelings  about  being  victimized.  ·∙                  97%  of  youth  offenders  said  that  as  a  result  of  the  dialogue  they  have  a  better  understanding  of  how  their  actions                      affected  the  victim(s).