Speaker promotes ‘Restorative Justice’

By Aaron Smullin

Western hosted its first “Eggs and Issues” discussion for the academic year on Nov. 12.

Gordon Bazemore, a leading authority on the concept of restorative justice in America’s criminal justice system was the featured speaker. Bazemore gave his presentation called “Restorative Justice; An Alternative Response to Crime.”

Bazemore is a professor and chair of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He is also the director of the Community Justice Institute at Florida Atlantic University. Bazemore has spoken and written extensively about the concept of restorative justice, which emphasizes repairing the harm caused by crime.

With an audience of about 100 students, staff and community members in attendance, Bazemore spoke about Restorative Justice and who crime affects. According to Bazemore, when people are asked about justice, the thing that comes to mind is punishment. Most want to know that the person who committed a criminal act will get some sort of punishment for what they did.

“We as Americans have become addicted to punishment,” Bazemore said.

The process of Restorative Justice is about rehabilitating a criminal. The program gives criminals a chance to meet the people that were affected by the crime whether it is a family or a business owner or several members of the community.

“Restorative Justice is not for sissies,” Bazemore said.

Jamie Roe, community engagement coordinator of Buchanan County, also spoke. The topics she spoke about also included Restorative Justice. She specifically spoke about how the juvenile office has designed a program around Restorative Justice. The office uses a program where the children are allowed to meet the people affected by the crime that was committed. This board is made up of specially trained volunteers that meet with the affected parties, the child and their family. The case is turned over to the volunteers and they handle the case from start to finish. The community takes care of the cases so, most of the time, it will never see the court system. Sometimes, the parents of the child come back to serve as volunteers on the board because they have seen both sides.

Junior student Taira Marriott enjoyed listening to Bazemore speak.

“Bazemore was a good speaker,” Marriott said. “He did a good job of explaining the roots of Restorative Justice.”

For those students who decided the “Eggs and Issues” was just a little too early, the presentation will be rebroadcast. It will be on channel 39 from Nov. 22-Dec. 3, Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon and Sundays at 4 p.m. It will also be broadcast on channel 97 in Atchison, Kansas.