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RESTORATIVE COMMUNITY CONFERENCING PROGRAM COMMUNITY GUIDE
RESTORATIVE COMMUNITYCONFERENCING
PROGRAM COMMUNITY GUIDE
PARTNERS
- REPRESENTATIVE / OFFICES OF COUNTY SUPERVISOR GREG COX
Table of Contents
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Restorative Justice
Restorative Community Conferencing
Referral Criteria
Eligibility Chart
Outcome Flow Chart
RCC Process
Benefits
Restorative Resources
Literature
Available Workshops
Contacts
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Definition
“An inclusive process motivated primarilyby a need to address harm.”
Restorative Justice provides a safe space to address offenses face-to-face in order for the
responsible party to take responsibility for their actions, repair harm to all stakeholders, give a voice
to those harmed and build trust and community.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
COMMUNITY
OFFENDER VICTIM
OUR CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ASKS THESE THREE QUESTIONS:
1) What law was broken?
2) Who broke it?
3) What punishment is given?
RCC ASKS A DIFFERENT SET OF QUESTIONS:
1) Who was harmed?
2) What are the needs of all affected?
3) Whose obligation is it to meet those needs?
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RESTORATIVE COMMUNITY CONFERENCING (RCC)Definition
RCC is a meeting between the person that has been harmed, the youth that caused the harm, and the
interested people within the community. The goal of the meeting is to create a plan to repair the
harm. Everyone in the meeting participates in creating the action plan which the youth completes
with the support of the community members.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN A RCC?
PHASE 1Referrals come from police, probation, court, or directly from the community. A facilitator will contact responsible youth, caregivers and person harmed to schedule convening meetings.
PHASE 2A facilitator will schedule individual meetings with the youth, their caregivers, the person harmed, and community members to discuss the process and preparation for the RCC. The individual preparation meetings usually take place over a few weeks.
PHASE 3The group meeting is held in a location convenient to all parties. The meeting usually takes 2 to 4 hours. Participants include the youth, their caregivers, the person harmed, and community members who want to help the youth make things right. The meeting discusses the harm caused and the action plan that will be created.
PHASE 4The youth and community members who have volunteered to help, complete the actions in the action plan. Depending on the actions, the plan completion can take a few weeks or a few months. In some cases, the plan must be completed before the court timeline. When the plan is successfully completed, the case is closed with a celebration and if there are charges pending, they are dismissed.
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WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN A RCC?
PHASE 1Referrals come from police, probation, court, or directly from the community. Contact responsible youth, caregivers and person harmed to schedule covening meetings.
PHASE 2A facilitator will schedule individual meetings with the youth, their caregivers, the person harmed, and community members to discuss the process and preparation for the RCC. The individual preparation meetings usually take place over a few weeks.
PHASE 3The group meeting is held in a location convenient to all parties. The meeting usually takes 2 to 4 hours. Participants include the youth, their caregivers, the person harmed, and community members who want to help the youth make things right. The meeting discusses the harm caused and the action plan that will be created.
PHASE 4The youth and community members who have volunteered to help complete the actions in the action plan. Depending on the actions, the plan completion can take a few weeks or a few months. In all cases, the plan must be completed before the court timeline.
PHASE CLOSEDWhen the plan is successfully completed, the case is closed with a celebration and if there are charges pending, they are dismissed.
WHAT IS AN ACTION PLAN?
The action plan is an agreement made by the people in the RCC. It usually has four parts: efforts to make things as right as possible for the person harmed, the community, the youth’s family, and the youth themselves. Restitution, if applicable is usually addressed during this process. Community members are often listed in the action plan as key supporters for the youth. Each action is unique and created by the people in the RCC.
IS RCC VOLUNTARY?
Yes, RCC is voluntary and everyone needs to participate in good faith for it to be successful. RCC requires that the youth that caused harm take responsibility for the harm and the desire to make it right. RCC requires that the person harmed be willing to collaborate to create a realistic plan for repairing the harm they suffered.
WHAT IF THE PERSON HARMED DOES NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
If the person harmed does not want to participate but wants the youth to have an RCC, the case can move forward. If the person harmed does not want the RCC to move forward, they have the right to request traditional court processing.
WHAT IF THE YOUTH DOES NOT COMPLETE THE ACTION PLAN?
Because the action plan is created by the youth and community, the voluntary plan is nearly always completed. In some cases, when there is a change in circumstances that makes the process difficult to complete, the facilitator can help alter the plan with approval from the people in the RCC. If the youth chooses to not complete the action plan, the case is sent back to the referring agency for alternative action.
WHY IS RCC A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL COURT PROCESSING?
Persons that have been harmed have an opportunity to explain the impact of the youth’s offense, get important questions answered, and have input in the action plan to repair the harm caused. They are given an opportunity to use their strengths to repair the harm as much as possible. Through the support provided to the person harmed and the youth, community relationships are strengthened as people get to know one another during the RCC and during the action plan completion. The needs of the participants are identified and wrap-around community services are provided to the person harmed, the youth, and their families.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PARTICIPATE?
During an RCC law enforcement officers, as well as the responsible youth, have the opportunity to humanize themselves by explaining the situation from their perspective. Participation in the RCC potentially grants a higher level of satisfaction for Law Enforcement by granting an active voice during the action plan. Instead of punitively stating facts in court, officers can directly see and be apart of the difference they make within their community.
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REFERRAL CRITERIAIntake – Reviewing case specifics
IDENTIFIABLE VICTIM
THEFT BURGLARY BATTERY VANDALISM RESISTINGARREST
FAMILYVIOLENCE
ASSAULT
RESPONSIBLE YOUTH
ZIP CODES
CRIMINALCHARGES
Age – 18 (17.5 date of the incident) & under
Individual directlyimpacted by the
incident
Offense must occur within the following/ RY or PHmust reside within the following zip codes:
Mid-city (92102, 92104, 92105, 92115)
SE San Diego (92102, 92113, 92114, 92139)
Barrio Logan (92113)
Lemon Grove (91945)
Spring Valley (91977, 91978)
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ELIGIBILITY CHARTReferral Intake
LAW ENFORCEMENT YOUTH ARREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT
SCREEN FOR RCC ELIGIBILITY
NOTELIGIBLE
INELIGIBLE OFFENSES
• Homicide• Arson• Serious gang offenses• Sexual assault
TRADITIONALPROCESSING
PREFERREDPRE-CHARGE CASES
• Commercial burglaries• Assaults• Theft• Domestic/family
violence• Battery• Vandalism• Weapons charge
RESTORATIVECOMMUNITY
CONFERENCING(RCC) REFERRAL
RCC: CONVENING, PREPARATION, ACTION PLAN &
JOINT CONFERENCES
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
• Youth must be under 17.5 years old• Must be identifiable victim• Address of responsible youth, victim, and or crime
» Mid-city (92102, 92104, 92105, 92115)» SE San Diego (92102, 92113, 92114, 92139)» Barrio Logan (92113)» Lemon Grove (91945)» Spring Valley (91977, 91978)
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POSSIBLEOUTCOMES
Succesfulcompletion of
RCC Action Plan
Reintegration to classroomsthrough use of RJ practices,follow up by RCC Facilitator,
continued partnershipwith mentor
Petition considered andfiled for prosection with
the District Attorney
Unsuccesfulcompletion of
RCC Action Plan
OUTCOME FLOW CHART
There are several reasons after an RCC referral is made that the result is not moving forward with, or defecting from RCC, some reasons include:
• Responsible youth or person harmed refused to participate• RCC facilitators are unable to contact RY or PH• RCC facilitator unable to hold joint conference• RY unable to complete action plan
If this occurs for any reason, petition is considered and filed for prosecution with District Attorney
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REFERRALYOUTH
CONVENINGVICTIM
CONVENING
RCC PROCESS IN DETAILPhase 1
INITIAL CALL TO RESPONSIBLE YOUTH (RY)
• Contact RY and caregivers to see if they are interested in having an in personmeeting with the facilitator and to find out more about the restorative communityconference opportunity
• Schedule convening meeting
INITIAL CALL TO PERSON HARMED (PH)
• Contact PH or caregivers to see if they are interested in having an in personmeeting with the coordinator to find out more about the restorative communityconference opportunity
• Schedule convening meeting
CONVENING MEETINGS - Introductions, roles, and program specifics
With the Responsible Youth: Meeting with youth first, to ensure they are taking responsibility for their actions
• How has this harm impacted you? Your family? The person harmed?Your community?
• Discuss RCC and schedule pre-meetings
With the Person Harmed:
• Hear their story. How has this harm impacted you? What would you like to say tothe RY and caregivers?
• Discuss program and schedule pre-meetings
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YOUTHPREPARATION
VICTIMPREPARATION
COMMUNITYPREPARATION
RCC PROCESS IN DETAIL Phase 2 - Community Introduction
PREPARATION MEETINGS – Preparation for the conference
Responsible Youth: Talk about underlying issues and needs
• Prepare them for the conference. Are they comfortable talking in front of theircommunity?
• Discuss impact, empathy, compassion and forgiveness
Person Harmed:
• How has the impact affected their daily life?
• Are they comfortable talking in front of the youth and the community?
• Discuss and prepare for conference
MEET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, SUPPORTER, ETC.
• To respond to the needs of participants as needed
• Interested community members involvement is important to hear otherperspectives and offer support
• How has this harm impacted the community? What can you do to help makethings right?
• Discuss and prepare for conference.
An average of 10 pre-meetings is sometimes expected prior to scheduling an RCC.
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RCC PROCESS IN DETAILPhase 3
JOINT CONFERENCE (RCC)
• Discuss the harm that was caused and create an Action Plan to repair that harm
• Respond to the needs of participants as needed
ACTION PLAN FOLLOW-UP
• Youth and community members help execute the Action Plan
COMPLETION OF ACTION PLAN
• Youth completes Action Plan 10
FACILITATOR
TEACHER
PERSONHARMED
FAMILYMEMBER
SUPPORTER/MENTOR
COMMUNITYMEMBER
COMMUNITYMEMBER
LAWENFORCE-
MENT
CO-FAC
SERVICEPROVIDER
FAMILYMEMBER
RESPON-SIBLE
YOUTH
CAREGIVER
JOINTCONFERENCE
PLANCOMPLETION CLOSING
FOR RESPONSIBLE YOUTH
• Opportunity to take responsibility
• Creative plan to make things as right as possible for everyone
• Charges dismissed when plan is complete
• Access to community resources
• Support from community
FOR PERSON HARMED
• Satisfaction of explaining the impact of the crime
• Opportunity to have questions answered
• Input on how the youth can make things as right as possible
• Access to community resources
• Support from community
FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS:
• Contribute to the safety and well-being of the community
• Opportunity to teach and support youth to successfully repair the harm
• Build community strength through relationships and knowledge
RCC PROCESS IN DETAILPhase 4
BENEFITSParticipants
CELEBRATION, EVALUATION AND REPORTINGOnce Action Plan is completed, case is closed with a celebration and any charges pending are dismissed
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RESTORATIVE RESOURCESWebsites
- REPRESENTATIVE / OFFICES OF COUNTY SUPERVISOR GREG COX
LOCAL RESOURCES:
National Conflict Resolution Center: http://www.ncrconline.com/
Restorative Justice Mediation Program: http://www.sdrjmp.org/
Tariq Khamisa Foundation: http://www.tkf.org/
FURTHER RESOURCES:
Interactions for Peace: http://www.interactionsforpeace.org/
Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth: http://rjoyoakland.org/
The California Conference fore Equality & Justice: http://www.cacej.org/
Oakland Unified School District: http://www.ousd.k12.ca.us/restorativejustice
The Center for Justice and Peace building at Eastern Mennonite University:http://www.emu.edu/cjp
Restorative Justice Online: http://www.restorativejustice.org
International Institute for Restorative Practices: http://iirp.org
The Ojai Foundation-Circle: http://www.ojaifoundation.org/
The Forgiveness Project: http://theforgivenessproject.com/
Alternatives to Violence Project: http://avpusa.org/
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LITERATURE
- REPRESENTATIVE / OFFICES OF COUNTY SUPERVISOR GREG COX
Boyes-Watson, C. (2008). Peacemaking Circles and Urban Youth. St. Paul, MN: Living Justice Press.
Braithwaite, J. (2002). Restorative Justice and Responsive Regulation. New York:Oxford University Press.
Claassen, R., & Claassen, R. (2008). Discipline that Restores: Strategies to create respect, cooperation, and responsibility, in the classroom. South Carolina: BookSurge Publishing.
Costello, B., Wachtel, J., & Watchtel, T. (2009). The Restorative Practices Handbook for teachers, disciplinarians, and administrators. Canada: International Institute for Restorative Practices.
Kotter, J.P. (1996). Leading Change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Liebmann, M. (2007). Restorative Justice: How it Works. London and Philadelphia:Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Pranis, K. (2005). The Little Book of Circle Processes: A New/Old Approach to Peacemaking. Intercourse, Pennsylvania: Good Books.
Pranis, K., Barry, S., and Wedge, M. (2003). Peacemaking Circles. St. Paul, MN: Living Justice Press.
Stutzman Amstutz, L (2005). The Little Book of Restorative Discipline for Schools: Teaching Responsibility; Creating Caring Climates. Intercourse, Pennsylvania: Good Books.
Thorsborne, M., & Blood, P. (2013). Implementing Restorative Practices in Schools: A practical guide to transforming school communities. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Watchtel, T., Mirsky, L. (2008). Safer Saner Schools: Restorative Practices in Education,Restoring a Culture of Community in Learning Environments. Canada: International Institute for Restorative Practices.
Watchtel, T., O’Connell, T., &Watchtel, B. (2010). Restorative Justice Conferencing: Real Justice & The Conference Handbook. PA: The Piper’s Press.
Winslade, J., & Monk, G. (2006). Narrative Counseling in Schools: Powerful & Brief.Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Zehr, H. (2002). The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.
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AVAILABLE LAW ENFORCEMENTAND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPSOpen Enrollment
SIGN UP THROUGH SDUSD ERO
INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND COMMUNITYBUILDING CIRCLES
This experiential workshop will focus on foundational restorative practices and community building circles. Participants will learn how to facilitate different types of restorative circles. The theory and reason why restorative circles are effective in building relationships will be explored in depth. Participants will practice participating in circles and explore ways to use community building circles in any applicable setting.
INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATIVE CONFERENCING
This interactive training focuses on learning how to facilitate restorative conferences when harm has been done in a community. This workshop is particularly helpful for administrators and those responsible for addressing harm on their school campuses.
Workshop attendees will participate in skill building activities that include facilitating restorative conferences between impacted parties, those responsible for harm, and the school community. This includes preparing participants in pre-meetings, acknowledging cross-cultural considerations, managing the expression of emotions, providing support for all parties in the offense, developing a restorative action plan, and ongoing mentoring.
RJ 101 – COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
WWW.NCRCONLINE.COM
Community members that are interested in learning more about Restorative Justice are invited to attend our Restorative Justice workshop. The workshop will explain Restorative Justice, the “school to prison pipeline,” and different restorative tools that can be used to increase positive school and community
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DOWNTOWN
530 B Street Suite 1700San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 238-2400
SOUTHEAST
220 Euclid Ave. Suite 110San Diego, CA 92114
(619)642-2055
CITY HEIGHTS
4305 University Ave. Suite 110San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 389-0494
RCC Program AdvisorBridget Lambert [email protected]
Restorative Practices School CoordinatorJustine Darling [email protected]
Restorative PracticesSchool Specialist Jennifer [email protected]
RCC Program Manager Francisco Carbajal [email protected]
CONTACTS Collaborative Staff
Executive DirectorDiana Ross [email protected]
Community Organizer Eric Reese [email protected]
Restorative Practices Department DirectorFelicia Singleton-DanielSan Diego Unified School District [email protected]
CENTER FORCOMMUNITYCOHESION
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Empowering People. Transforming Cultures.
In our professional and personal lives, conflicts arise. Whether in business or government, on
campuses, or among communities and individuals, effective communication strategies reveal common
ground. NCRC provides services and training to transform conflict into resolution.
