JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OF LEXINGTON AND FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOLS

1. JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OF LEXINGTONAND FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOLS Linda Harvey Kelley Ransdell Jill Blackman October 29, 2012

2. OVERVIEW OF THIS PRESENTATION BRIEF SUMMARY OF JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DESCRIPTION OF JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SERVICES VICTIM OFFENDER MEDIATION FOR SCHOOLS AND HOW IT WAS IMPLEMENTED FOR BULLYING, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CONFLICTS BROUGHT INTO THE SCHOOLS BENEFITS FOR YOUTH RESOURCE CENTERS

3. Juvenile Restorative Justice • COURT DESIGNATED WORKER OFFICE • FAMILY AND DISTRICT COURTS • EIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN FAYETTE COUNTY

4. ALL VOLUNTEERNON-AUTHORITARIAN ROLE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MEDIATION SERVICES VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCING FAMILY MEDIATION CIRCLES PREVENTIVE DRUG (TIPP) FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS OF VARYING DISCIPLINES 17 BUILD CHURCH COALITION-MAKE A DIFFERENCE

5. MISSION STATEMENT • Find positive outcomes and opportunities for kids whose lives are touching the court system • Find positive ways for kids to be accountable for their actions • Open lines of communication and engage in compassionate conversations with the kids, their parents, and others • Develop and mobilize a holistic approach, looking for community resources, school and family-based solutions • Keep kids in their homes by supporting their families by finding creative solutions • Keep kids out of court or if in court, get them out of court • Keep kids out of jail • Keep kids from going to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services • Keep kids in school until they graduate

6. POSSIBLE BENEFITS CONTINUING COORDINATION AND COMMUNCIATION TO RESOLVE CRISIS AND GET TO PERMANENT SOLUTIONS FUTURE FOCUS AND SUCEEDING WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF RESOURCES “ MAKING THINGS RIGHT” OUTCOME DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE LIVING SITUATIONS WITHOUT PARENT LOSING CUSTODY OR BEING REFERRED TO CABINET HELP FAMILIES FEEL LESS THREATENED BY COURT BY OUR NON-ADVERSARIAL ROLE VALIDATE THEIR UNIQUE STORY TAKE POWER OVER THEIR OWN SITUATION AND DEAL WITH WHOLE PICTURE REDUCE RECIVIDISM AND COSTS

7. Our approach to juveniles and their situations determines what questions to ask and what solutions we will be seeking that goes beyond existing resources AND SOLUTIONS……MOST OF ALL WE ARE AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA

8. Impact of Trauma on a Child Trauma can be the result of exposure to a natural disaster such as a hurricane or flood or to events such as war and terrorism. Witnessing or being the victim of violence, serious injury, or physical or sexual abuse can be traumatic. Accidents or medical procedures can result in trauma, too. Sadly, about one of every four children will experience a traumatic event before the age of 16. When children have a traumatic experience, they react in both physiological and psychological ways. Their heart rate may increase, and they may begin to sweat, to feel agitated and hyperalert, to feel “butterflies” in their stomach, and to become emotionally upset. These reactions are distressing, but in fact they’re normal — they’re our bodies’ way of protecting us and preparing us to confront danger. However, some children who have experienced a traumatic event will have longer lasting reactions that can interfere with their physical and emotional health. Center for Trauma on Children

9. Child Trauma Take Home Message: • Traumatic stress can interfere with children’s ability to concentrate, learn, and perform in school. • It can change how children view the world and their futures, and can lead to future employment problems. • It can also take a tremendous toll on the entire family. • The way that traumatic stress appears will vary from child to child and will depend on the child’s age and developmental level.

10. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND VICTIM OFFENDER MEDIATION THIS SOLUTION DRIVEN APPROACH CAN BENEFIT THE COURT SYSTEM AND SCHOOL SYSTEM BY TAKING THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE FAMILY DYNAMICS OR OTHER DYNAMICS IMPACTING THE SITUATION-KEEPING IN MIND THAT MOST OF THE JUVENILES WE ARE DEALING WITH HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED AND HAVE SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

11. VICTIM OFFENDER MEDIATION FOR PUBLIC OR SCHOOL OFFENSES PROVIDES COMMUNICATION DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND OFFENDER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTIMS TO EXPRESS THE FULL IMPACT OF THE INCIDENT UPON THEIR LIFE AND TO RECEIVE ANSWERS TO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR OFFENDERS TO LEARN REAL HUMAN IMPACT OF THEIR BEHAVIOR , TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING IT RIGHT, AND EMPATHY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS FACTS AND FEELINGS IN A CONFIDENTIAL SETTING DEVELOPS A CONCRETE PLAN OR CONTRACT FOR AMENDS AND RESTITUTION IF APPROPRIATE CONTRIBUTES TO NON-VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY

12. RISKS AND BENEFITS FOR VICTIM AND OFFENDER RELIVING UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS OF THE VICTIMZATION LEARNING PAINFUL NEW DETAILS BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS ANGER TO OFFENDER POSSIBLY SEEING REMORSE IN OFFENDER FEELING MORE IN CONTROL AND LESS FEARFUL ************************** RE-EXPERIENCING GUILT AND SHAME FEELING VULNERABLE AND LOSS OF CONTROL LEARNING REAL IMPACT OF OFFENSE AND MOVING BEYOND DENIAL HAVING A CHANCE TO BE HEARD

13. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WITH BEYOND CONTROL OR STATUS CASES The parent, guardian, grandparent or school is usually the one who is the victim and files a beyond control charge in the Court Designated Worker Office where the juvenile is placed on a six month diversion with an assigned CDW worker Case plan is developed to address the specific family dynamics and behavior of their child-this contract is added to their diversion agreement or plan If the child(11-18 years of age) violates the diversion, he or she can be sent to family court-if the child also commits a criminal offense, he or she can be sent to district court or if police pick up, can go directly to court If JRJ follows up with a case or deals with it in court; case management services can be implemented and mediation options can be provided.

14. How can JRJ help further with beyond control cases? -Being present with deep compassionate listening and being accessible by cell phone. -Hearing and honoring the personal stories of all -Being a non-judgmental third party working with parent and child proactively -Communicating warmth and safety in conducting dialogue -Instilling ownership, empowerment, hope, and motivation -Aiding communication between parent and child and alienated parents -Monitoring the process and intervening when absolutely necessary -Providing a structure and orderly process to address the issues -Discovering the underlying dynamics of the trauma, mental health issues, and negative behavior that is usually directed towards the mother -Communicating with the school and convening school conferences to learn what is occurring with the juvenile’s academics and school behavior -Referring juvenile to appropriate mental health resources -Providing material or financial assistance to juvenile or family

15. In the words of the developmental psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner: …in order to develop normally, a child requires progressively more complex joint activity with one or more adults who have an irrational emotional relationship with the child. Somebody’s got to be crazy about that kid. That’s number one. First, last, and always.