DPS Hosts Conference Highlighting
Restorative Justice Best Practice
JEFFERSON CITY, September 13, 2006-Director of Missouri
Department of Public Safety Mark James today addressed over 100 judges,
juvenile court staff, and community resource personnel at the 2006
Restorative Justice Conference his department co-hosted Sept. 12-14.
“The conference aims to provide juvenile justice
practitioners in Missouri practical guidance on the programmatic application
of restorative justice philosophy,” James said.
The conference features discussions about services to
victims, offenders, and communities, and developing community partnerships.
Other topics include restorative group conferencing, peacemaking circles,
victim-offender conferencing, and restorative peer juries. Additionally,
each participant received a copy of a new manual developed specifically
for this conference, which describes the use of restorative justice
in Missouri’s Juvenile Courts.
Restorative justice strives to balance the attention
paid to the needs of all parties affected by crime: the victim, the
offender, and the community. The principles of restorative justice
serve as a guide to the actions taken to achieve that balance. When
these principles are being adhered to and juvenile justice practice
takes into account the needs of the victim, the offender, and the
community, balanced and restorative justice is in practice.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety Juvenile Justice
Office, the Mid-America Regional Council, and the Missouri Restorative
Justice Coalition co-hosted the conference.