Restorative Justice Training Program ( RJTP) Working Group

Hi RJTP Working Group members,

Here is this week's RJ reflection piece!  See attached,  a New York Times opinion piece from March 2020 titled " #MeToo Doesn't Always Have to Mean Prison. Restorative justice is an alternative we should also consider."

Please share suggestions for how we can consider insights from the article into our tool kit. 

Looking forward to seeing your Restorative Reflections. 

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Heather Blair
Restorative Justice Grant Specialist
California District Attorneys Association
Sacramento CA
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Hello Everyone,

Here are a few highlights from this article that I thought are worthy of discussion.

• Ashley Judd like other victim's are promised by advocates and  prosecutors to absolve your pain by prosecuting offenders to the maximum possible extent. However, most victims don't fulling understand the zero tolerance, broad criminal prohibitions and harsh sentences according the California law.
• In the case of Stefanie Mundhenk Harrelson, What role did the college campus police have in the criminal investigation and what role did Title IV play in the outcome of the student who caused harm?  What was the agreement for resolution between the college and the students?

Overall, I think the article did a good job of  driving the point that RJ should be offered in SA cases when both the victim and responsible party agree on the process. II agree that the criminal prosecutions expose victims to a toxic level of stress and not all victims desire harsh punishment  for the violence committed against them. The criminal proceedings can be retraumatizing and disempowering as their voice is not fully heard and their experiences not recognized.  

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CheRonn Ford
Sr. Community Development Specialist
San Francisco Probation
San Francisco CA
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