As part of its journey to become a "restorative city," Wanganui, New Zealand recently hosted "Associate Professor at the Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law, and a director of the Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Community University Research Alliance in Canada, Professor Llewellyn ... to speak to members of the Whanganui Restorative Practices Trust, local lawyers and the Wanganui District Council."
This is according to Merania Karauria for the Wanganui Chronicle. The piece, titled "A crusader changing the way we relate to people" continues:
[Llewellyn] says restorative justice is a theory of justice and a vehicle through which a community can learn together.
Furthermore, restorative justice has its roots in many common social practices which predate the rise of the nation state.
The definition of insanity is to continue to do things that are not working, she says. "We continue to treat people the way we always have - locking them away and treating them inhumanely. The closer we are to those involved, we can craft better solutions."
"We are dealing with complex social stories, not a simple victim ... not just the incident, but the causes."
Restorative justice is a way to change the way we relate to people in the future.
"That is where the safety lies. It is work that equips people how to behave in the future."
To be fully effective and fundamental to restorative justice inside and outside the justice system, restorative conferencing should involve not only the offender, the victim and a facilitator, but also family and friends of both the victim and offender who can bring insight and support to the discussion.
Llewellyn partnered with IIRP to present its 14th World Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia in June, 2011. Previous posts about Wanganui can be found here and here.
