Nothing's perfect but restorative justice is a big step forward. I've been told that at least one Native American tribe applied the concept of restorative justice to bring 'closure', forgiveness, tribal cohesion, and abundant living to all members. It's a smart win-win concept. My daughter says her high school uses this concept for their students when they misbehave. I predict this is the future for a humanity experiencing a renaissance of Truth and Beauty, however it won't be very useful to people who have difficulty communicating, either listening or verbal expressiveness. It requires an ability to speak Truth, the courage to not waste time hiding behind negative positions. Probably requires a certain level of self control, as well as just basic human rights of shelter, nutrition and education. Social scientists could add to their body of knowledge by collecting and analyzing data about the use of this concept. It's possible that the problem of justice for the 10% of our population affected by psychopathology and/or sociopathology could be positively by met with this concept of restorative justice. For those who seek retribution this concept may not be satisfactory but Solzhenitsyn said," If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?
The Gulag Archipelago (1973)
2 Reviews
Powerful insight into the healing possible long after a verdict
susuchandler4 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers at bottom. I just finished watching episode 6 "Officer Down" and it's one of the most powerful and uplifting things I've ever seen, not just on a TV screen. I had to write a review for any who might wonder about the show. I've watched 5 of the episodes so far and I'm hooked. Watching this show balances out some of the bad news that inundates us and gives me a bit of hope.
The series is about restorative justice, where victims of crime are able to ask for what they need to heal and move forward. It's a guided process that builds up to a dialog between victim(s) and offender. Victims get the opportunity to face the perpetrator and have a conversation with the person responsible for the tragedy. Most ask the questions they've wanted answered from the only person who has the answers. Perpetrators get the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions, offer a meaningful apology and try to explain (not give excuses) their actions. The process is separate from the criminal justice system, but allows willing participants the chance to actually heal.
This episode is about the meeting between a sherrif and the young man who shot him and left him to die in 1997. The courage required for both parties is extraordinary, which is part of why this episode was so powerful for me. Seeing the results of both men's courage will stick with me. This episode demonstrates some of the ripples from a single incident of violence, but more importantly, it shows the ripples from the dialog.
Spoilers: The sherrif is Caucasian and the barely 17 year old who shot him is African American. This dialog offers at least some insight into the violence and racial clashes that are still occurring. Neither party knew exactly what to expect from the process and the victim's wife, understandably, chose not to participate. At the last minute, she decided to go along but watch from another room. The results were far bigger than I ever would have anticipated.
Tom has obviously done a lot of reflection on how the incident came about, evidenced by things he said and his response to Jason. Hearing Jason explain his mindset at the time and his transformation shows what's possible if one is willing to take responsibility and do the work to change. His change was evident to Tom who responded with kindness and hope, giving Jason healing he needed, but never expected. The uplifting words were all the more powerful for Jason coming from a retired, white cop.
Tom's wife watched the dialog on monitors in another room. After seeing the transformation, she wanted to meet Jason. The hug and tears between her and Jason were 21 years of rage and anger being released. Her unexpected healing is the side-effect of Tom's and Jason's courage and willingness.
The series is about restorative justice, where victims of crime are able to ask for what they need to heal and move forward. It's a guided process that builds up to a dialog between victim(s) and offender. Victims get the opportunity to face the perpetrator and have a conversation with the person responsible for the tragedy. Most ask the questions they've wanted answered from the only person who has the answers. Perpetrators get the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions, offer a meaningful apology and try to explain (not give excuses) their actions. The process is separate from the criminal justice system, but allows willing participants the chance to actually heal.
This episode is about the meeting between a sherrif and the young man who shot him and left him to die in 1997. The courage required for both parties is extraordinary, which is part of why this episode was so powerful for me. Seeing the results of both men's courage will stick with me. This episode demonstrates some of the ripples from a single incident of violence, but more importantly, it shows the ripples from the dialog.
Spoilers: The sherrif is Caucasian and the barely 17 year old who shot him is African American. This dialog offers at least some insight into the violence and racial clashes that are still occurring. Neither party knew exactly what to expect from the process and the victim's wife, understandably, chose not to participate. At the last minute, she decided to go along but watch from another room. The results were far bigger than I ever would have anticipated.
Tom has obviously done a lot of reflection on how the incident came about, evidenced by things he said and his response to Jason. Hearing Jason explain his mindset at the time and his transformation shows what's possible if one is willing to take responsibility and do the work to change. His change was evident to Tom who responded with kindness and hope, giving Jason healing he needed, but never expected. The uplifting words were all the more powerful for Jason coming from a retired, white cop.
Tom's wife watched the dialog on monitors in another room. After seeing the transformation, she wanted to meet Jason. The hug and tears between her and Jason were 21 years of rage and anger being released. Her unexpected healing is the side-effect of Tom's and Jason's courage and willingness.
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