JUVENILE/ADULT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the values and principles of restorative justice for juveniles and adults and urges the commonwealth and localities to develop activities, programming and training consistent with these values and principles in responding to crime. This option should be offered at the earliest possible time in the process, with juveniles being given preference if funds are limited.
Persons to be involved: for Juveniles: victims, schools, family, juvenile justice system, community, offender, restorative justice volunteers, trained attorneys, judges; for Adults: victims, adult education programs, family, adult correction system, community, offender, trained attorneys, judges, volunteers, Restorative Justice Association of VA.
Programs or practices to be offered as options: Victim-offender dialogue (variety of models): Activities addressing anger management, accountability, empathy for the victim and the impact of crime; Mental health screening and substance abuse programs; Jobs and skills training; Family counseling.
Consider case by case the needed involvement of community and/or family members, trained volunteers, attorneys, judges, social services, family counselors, and after school programs. And, in all cases protect privacy of victims, offenders and others. Local courts, social agencies and trained volunteers should collect data from programs.
In coordination with the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Restorative Justice Association of VA the legislature or administrative agencies should develop standards and measures of evaluation. Measures of evaluation should include: victim satisfaction, offender compliance, extent harm was repaired, recidivism, benefit to the community, use of community service that develops skills (2005)
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