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• 1 2020-11-19T02:46:00+00:00 Offender Awareness Process 10 3 steps in offender awareness process gallery 2020-11-20T15:56:39+00:00
  There are 3 steps included in the offender awareness process. These processes are designed as a way to fully understand offenders and help them realize the consequences of their actions and their responsibilities. Restorative justice offers offenders an opportunity to experience the accountability that would not be available in prison.
  
  Step 1 : Training on Restorative Justice
  
  Similar to the training of victims, offenders will be educated on the concepts of restorative justice. Learning the theory will help them gain better understanding of their roles in the crime and the roles of other stakeholders. Moreover, some offenders may reconsider themselves and their situation after education.
  • Specialists who study restorative justice or have been trained in restorative justice practices will educate offenders on its key principles and concepts
  • Offenders are able to ask questions on confusing topics
  • Training will continue when offenders fully understand the general concepts of restorative justice
  Step 2 : Clarify & Understand
  
  The second step in helping offenders take responsibilities for their actions is to allow them to share their emotions regarding the events that have occurred and what moments in their life that might have led them to commit the crime. The criminal justice system asks about stories too, but only focus on the details pertinent to the actual crime itself. This program encourages offenders to share their stories in order to help victims and the community seen those who cause harm more as human beings who have their own traumas rather than simply as a target for hatred and blame. This program aims to understand the lives of offenders to clarify the reasons behind the crime. 
  • Restorative justice representatives can discuss with both offenders within and outside of prison
  • Conversations should be lead with respect and should never have the intention of shaming or discriminating offenders
  • Offenders are encouraged to share any insights they view relevant to the case and express any forms of apology to victims or community members
  • Offenders are able to express their emotions, such as grief, anxiety, or sadness, with restorative justice representatives in order to plan for action and involve practices that address these emotions and concerns
    • If in prison --> offenders are encouraged to enter into dialogue with fellow inmates about their grief and experiences with the criminal justice system, along with how they have come to understand their actions and consequences
  Step 3 : Address Obligations and Needs
  
  The final step would be to work with offenders to create obligations and responsibilities that they expected to uphold based on their concerns and the teachings of restorative justice.
  • Offenders both within and outside of prison will mutually create obligations with their restorative justice team
  • Offenders within prison will work with volunteers trained in restorative justice to create goals they can achieve within prison that are a form of accountability for their crime, such as
    • Writing letters to those harmed by crime, including community members
    • Reflecting on what life decisions brought them to their current situation and how it makes them feel
    • Reading or researching (depending on available resources) about healing through restorative justice
    • Face-to-face or mediated dialogue with victims