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Circle Peacemaking

️Sun Mar 18 2012

From Ballotpedia

Facts

Circle Peacemaking is a form of restorative justice that involves both a sentencing and a healing process for the victim and the accused. The idea is to promote a better community and address deeper issues between the conflicting people. There are many communities in the United States and Canada that have adopted the Peacemaking Circle.

Focuses of a peacemaking circle

Child abuse and neglect cases
Staff renewal and team building
Discrimination
Interpersonal conflicts in the workplace
Neighborhood tensions
School discipline

Family conflicts
Victim support
Juvenile and adult sentencing
Reintegration
Environmental disputes
Dialog between rival gangs

Types of circles

Circles of Support and Accountability

A Circle of Support or Accountability is usually made up of family, community and an agency to assist the accused and/or victim and his/her family achieve goals set by the Circle.^[1]

Peacemaking Circles

A Peacemaking Circle is a community directed process, sometimes in partnership with the criminal justice system, for developing a consensus on an appropriate sentencing plan which addresses the concerns of all interested parties.^[1]

A traditional circle ritual and structure is used to create a space in which all interested parties can speak openly and join in a shared search for understanding of the event and to identify the steps necessary to begin healing all those affected and prevent further suffering.^[1]

Sentencing Circles

A Sentencing Circle is used by the community to give a sentence to the accused. This would ideally have a more powerful effect because the persons sentencing are also interacting with the accused on a daily basis.

“After a circle, there are thirty probation officers in the village who know what the offender is supposed to be doing and whose influence can be brought to bear.”

-Yukon Justice Committee member^[2]

Talking Circles

A Talking Circle is a way of bringing a group together for the purpose of solving an existing problem, healing past conflicts, or serving as a place where individuals can come to voice their concerns. One of the more common forms of this circle is a sharing circle where people come to share what they have to say. There are important rules that apply to the talking circle and other circles. Participants shall not speak without possession of the talking piece and one shall not interrupt those who are speaking; when requested that it be a "closed circle," all that has been said and all the identities of the participants shall be kept confidential.^[3]^[4]

Transition Circles

A Transition Circle is commonly used in dealing with persons recently released from incarceration. This circle helps those recover from the damage which lead to incarceration and also damage which was possibly caused by incarceration. It is a method for reintroduction into the community.^[5]

Aspects of a circle

The talking piece

The talking piece is often used in circles which deal with particularly emotional issues. It allows emotions to be expressed without taking over dialog.^[6]

It helps to promote better listening. Participants will listen better knowing that they will not have an opportunity to speak until the piece reaches them. It also reinforces the principle of equality in the circle because it gives an equal opportunity for all to speak in equal capacity.^[6]

A keeper is assigned to maintain an atmosphere of respect and safety while also focusing the circle on the unresolved issues at hand.^[6]

Some of the participants

Correctional facilities

Minnesota Correctional Facility Moose Lake: The original goal of the Restorative Justice Project at Moose Lake was to focus on the inmates but circumstances demanded that the prison staff be put through the Circle Peacemaking first. This was done to solve preexisting problems within the staff. The result of the project was the staff becoming more satisfied with their job and work environment. After the staff had experienced its effects they were able to institute the peacemaking circle in working with inmates and families in preparation for returning to the community.^[7]

Communities

Boston, Massachusetts: An organization called Roca uses the Peacemaking Circle as an alternative way to deal with conflict. To help maintain a healthy community, the organization helps homeless youth, gang members and teenagers solve their problems before it leads to a prison sentence .^[8]

Families and friends

The families and friends of victims or offenders can become involved in the healing process by participating in Family Group Conferencing. In this approach families and friends are given a chance to express how the crime has affected their lives, thus giving the offender a larger perspective of the repercussions his actions had on others related to the victim.^[9]

Native American Tribes

Kake, Alaska: In 1999, the Tribe of Kake established Circle Peacemaking in an effort to curb youth alcohol abuse and to help restore its culture and community. Four years after its initiation, the Peacemaking Circle experienced a 97.5 percent success rate in sentences while the Alaskan court system held a 22 percent success rate.^[10]

Controversy and debate

Advocates of circle peacemaking argue that it improves the community and reduces the likelihood of repeat offenders. Some opponents of circle peacemaking argue that it is too "soft touch" or allows the offender to escape punishment.^[11] One British academic, a proponent of restorative justice, said the approach might not be a good remedy for bullying in schools unless it also promoted strong community values.^[12]

External links

Footnotes

Peacemaking circles in current society

In the United States

Kake, Alaska: Since 2001 there have been thirty-six Peacemaking Circles in Kake. The circles have involved misdemeanor activity or parental alcohol abuse cases. Currently, all minor consuming alcohol cases in the area are dealt with by Circle Peacemaking.^[1]

O’ahu, Hawaii: The Huikahi Restorative Circle is a restorative justice project developed in 2005. It is a group process for reentry planning which works with the incarcerated individual, his or her family and friends, and one prison representative. This circle process focuses on both shutting the "revolving door" and helping incarcerated individuals and their loved ones to find ways to heal from the harm created by crime and imprisonment.^[2]

Boston, Massachusetts: An organization called Roca (dead link) uses the Peacemaking Circle as an alternative way to deal with conflict. To help maintain a healthy community, the organization helps homeless youth, gang members and teenagers solve their problems before it leads to a prison sentence.^[3]

Minnesota: Restorative justice work began in Minnesota in the early 1990s. All 10 of the Minnesota Correctional Facilities as well as many probation offices have restorative justice activities happening on a regular basis. According to a 2004 survey, probation offices in 63 counties have restorative justice services and 18 of which have programs involving circle peacemaking.^[4]

In Canada

Ontario: During the early 1990s, Circles of Support and Accountability were put into use to assist high-risk offenders who have served their prison sentences and are returning to the community. Since the 90s, these circles have now spread to communities in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.^[5]