NCJ Number
167046
Date Published
1997
Length
106 pages
Annotation
A survey was administered to Vermont corrections personnel to determine whether they believed that their department's effort to comply with a restorative justice model had been successful.
Abstract
Vermont's Department of Corrections was confronted with an overcrowding of its facilities, rising costs, public apathy, and programs of questionable efficacy. Its effort to devise a better way converged with discussion elsewhere of a historical method for doing justice now known as restorative justice. This study developed a model survey, based on Justice Fellowship's outline, "Creating Restorative Programs"; the survey was administered to traditional and volunteer staff. The survey's aim was to determine whether departmental personnel believed the implementation of the program conformed to the model of restorative justice. Additional surveys were prepared for separate departments. In addition to the surveys, audio tape recordings were made with the knowledge and consent of the persons present. The aspects of the Restorative Justice model examined were the pursuit of restoration, meeting victims' needs, meeting offenders' need, meeting community needs, creating effective community-government cooperation, the countering of adverse forces, and the fulfilling of Vermonters' hopes for a better system. The initiation of the restorative justice program required the indoctrination of the courts and traditional staff plus the recruiting and indoctrination of hundreds of volunteers. Survey and interview findings show that the initiation of the program was characterized by controlled confusion, some "jousting," continuing workshops, and revisions of manuals. There was a high level of enthusiasm for the program. Both the surveys and interviews show that the participants believe they come very close to meeting the qualifications for a Restorative Justice Program. 27 references, a 22-item bibliography, and a copy of the survey