RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM WORK GROUP

he Restorative Justice Program offers Restorative Group Conferencing, a process that involves the community of people most affected by wrongdoing – the victim, offender and the family, friends, and key supporters of both – in deciding the resolution of a criminal or harmful act, with the assistance of a trained facilitator. Juveniles must admit to the harm he/she has caused and be willing to repair that harm. The program served 119 juvenile offenders and 309 other key participants in 2005-06. Other participants include parents/guardians, victims (individuals, schools, businesses, cities, churches) and other affected community members. Juveniles exit the program when they have fulfilled all of the conditions outlined in the Restorative Justice Agreement – defined by the juvenile, victim, and key supporters of both in the Conferencing process.

History

The program began in March 2000 after a grant was received from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Prior to this time there were no restorative justice services provided in Clay County. Representatives of the Moorhead Police Department, MN Department of Corrections, Clay County Attorney’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Department; Clay County Social Services; Moorhead School; and Clay County Crime Victim Advocacy Program came together to write the grant proposal, develop the program, and hire a Program Coordinator.  Originally, the Program Coordinator was an employee of the Clay County Joint Powers Collaborative.  From April 2005 - September 2009, the Program Coordinator and other project staff were employees of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.  Since October 2009, program staff work out of the Crime Victim Advocacy Program in the Clay County Attorney's office.

Goals

The goal of the program is to reduce the number of youth entering the criminal justice system by offering opportunities to be involved in Restorative Justice processes.

Program Evaluation

The following statistics were compiled for the Restorative Justice Program’s most recent fiscal year report (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007):

• 144 juvenile offenders and 377 other participants were served.  Other participants include victims, supporters of the victim, supporters of the offender, agency/school representatives or community volunteers.
• 99% of Conferences ended with a formal agreement
• 98% of Conference/Council agreements were fulfilled.
• 99% of participants indicated they were satisfied with the process.
• 97% of participants believed the agreement was fair and reasonable.
• 98% of participants were satisfied with the facilitator.
• 95% of participants would recommend the process to someone in a similar situation

Funding

The FY07 program budget is $66,000, from July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007. $24,500 in grant funding has been awarded by the MN Department of Corrections. The Collaborative is providing the remaining $41,500 in LCTS funding through June 30, 2007.

Program Partners

The following partners are represented on the program’s advisory group:

• Barnesville Police Department
• Clay County Attorney’s Office
• Clay County Commissioners
• Clay County Sheriff’s Department
• Clay County Social Services
• Clay County Victim Advocacy Program
• Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton ISD #2164
• Dilworth Police Department
• Glyndon Police Department
• Hawley ISD #150
• MN Department of Corrections
• Moorhead Police Department
• Moorhead ISD #152

Work Group

The Restorative Justice Program Work Group provides overall direction to the program, setting program parameters, overseeing evaluation, establishing budget proposals, monitoring the budget, establishing the annual work plan and monitoring progress, and ensuring the program was responsive to the needs of the schools, within the ability of the Collaborative to provide resources.

Membership is appointed by Collaborative partners and includes representatives from the County, its schools, and interested non-profit partners, and is open to parents of children and youth who have utilized the services of this program.

2010/11 Reentry Services Project/Restorative Justice Advisory Group members:  As of fall 2010, this group will serve in place of the work group.

Links:

• Work Group minutes and program reports (quarterly & annual)
• Program brochure
• Restorative Justice website (Clay County Attorney, Crime Victim Program)
• Research

  • “The long-term impact of restorative justice programming for juvenile offenders” by Kathleen J. Bergseth (Department of Criminal Justice and Political Science, North Dakota State University) and Jeffrey A. Bouffard (Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice Program, Washington State University) published in Journal of Criminal Justice, 35 (2007) 433-451

This study of clients served by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Restorative Justice Program clearly states that Restorative Justice works.  According to the authors, “Youth referred to restorative justice processing are less likely than those processed in traditional juvenile court to reoffend up to three years after being referred to the Restorative Justice Program.  These juveniles also experience fewer new offenses and exhibit less serious later offending behavior, controlling for demographic and offense history factors.”  Research summary; Full article

• Restorative Justice Newsletter:  Summer 2006 |  Winter 2006/07  |  Summer 2007   |  Winter 2008/09
• Other resources
  • Minnesota Department of Corrections Restorative Justice site
  • Minnesota Restorative Services Coalition
  • Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota Restorative Justice Program
  • 2007 Report