Restorative Justice: Tough on Crime Approach

Respond to at least two colleagues:

Choose a response that is different from your own.

Explain how your colleague’s position has changed your perception or understanding.

1st reply:

These are great questions being asked here in our final discussion prompt. In last weeks assignment (where we had to write about a local crime committed by an adult offender and a juvenal offender) I wrote about to Dr. McMillan on how my local community does have political, social, and cultural factors that do have an effect on the restorative justice approach. As a resident of the state of Wyoming (a densely populated and strictly conservative state) I can attest to the rather obvious distain that my community and fellow citizens of the state would have towards the restorative justice approach. From where I come, the vast majority of people have the attituded that if an offender commits a crime, they need to be prosecuted to the fullest. Prosecution rates here in the state of Wyoming are high and the amount of people that are put in prison is outrageous (the town I live is the house of the State Penitentiary). I believe the community has this approach and distain for the restorative justice approach, because for one it is a very conservative state with conservative values, and because the community is vastly uninformed of how beneficial the restorative justice process can be.

If I were confronted by a community member who insisted that a “tough on crime” approach works best, I would try my hardest to teach or inform him of some of the benefits and statistical data on how restorative justice is a beneficial tool. Explaining that restorative justice approach isn't just a opportunity to give an offender a seconded chance, but also strives to help the victims and the community heal and help prevent crimes would be a major point I would try to make. Arguing, would not be helpful or even considered. I would explain certain methods uses in restorative justices, like how face-to-face meetings between offenders and victims is a option. Just trying to inform a person who has a "tough on crime" approach would be my main goal.
2nd reply:

The politics, social and cultural factors affect how the community responds to restorative justice because depending on the community's views could determine which local leaders they decide to vote for. The individuals running in election play a huge role on the criminal justice systems. If the community and political party decide restorative justice is not an effective form of justice, they can elect to have the program removed. Also, how the program is talked about in the community could impact whether it is used. How it is presented by the media will be critical, but perhaps not decisive: it is how well it works in practice, in those places innovative enough to fund it, that will likely be decisive (Belden, D 2012).

I live in Texas, and I see the state wish to utilize the restorative justice program for the youth instead of putting the individuals behind bars. The program implements healing and reduces the cost by going towards the criminal justice systems. In Texas, such practices significantly have reduced recidivism and improved restitution rates.20 A senator and prominent advocate of prison reform said his state is learning “to distinguish between who you’re afraid of and who you’re mad at.” (Newton, D. (2016, October 6).

If I were confronted by someone who insisted that a tough on crime approach works best, I would inform them that the program cuts the cost vs a traditional system used. Also, it provides healing and punishment for the offender. The individuals involved will have a chance to hear the side of the offender's story which could be beneficial to healing. The program builds the community which will provide a better future. In many states “restorative-justice” practices significantly have reduced recidivism and improved restitution rates (Newton, D. (2016, October 6).

Reference:

Belden, D. (2012). Controversies around restorative justiceLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.. Tikkun, (1), 27–33. 

Newton, D. (2016, October 6). Restorative justice and youthful offendersLinks to an external site.Links to an external site..