Restorative Justice--It is just Common Sense!

Sometimes folks ask me how I got interested in restorative justice.  Was it a book?  A lecture?  A short film?  Actually, I became interested when I watched the failings of our criminal justice system as an assistant prosecuting attorney.   I watched victims who were dissatisfied with outcomes, having never substantially had their suffering and harm recognized.  I watched offenders be exposed to a system that did not provide rehabilitation or any sincere effort to prevent further wrongdoing.  I watched other lawyers, judges and probation officers struggle to find ways to make things better until many resigned to being a cog in the wheel—moving cases through a complicated and cumbersome system. 

The Joint Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee is comprised of members of both the Virginia Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar.

The Joint Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, comprising members of The Virginia Bar Association and Virginia State Bar published their quarterly newsletter this week and have included my short article on restorative justice.  The article describes one case when I witnessed an offender apologize, sparking my interest in what was then referred to as Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP).  It was a pleasure it is for me to share this experience and my own education on the topic with the extended alternative dispute resolution professionals in the Commonwealth.  Read the full article here.  

To learn more about restorative justice in West Virginia, Virginia, and D.C., contact Brenda Waugh today.