Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice is a philosophy that focuses on the harm caused by crime, rather than just the legal violation of laws and rules. Restorative Justice encourages accountability, works to repair harm done to the victim and promotes safe and secure communities.

How does the Restorative Justice process work?
Restorative Justice programming at Lutheran Social Services is available throughout North Dakota. Cases are referred to the Restorative Justice program by the Juvenile Courts or the North Dakota Division of Juvenile Services.

Restorative practices are carried out through three program offerings at Lutheran Social Services/ND. The youth are held accountable for their actions through participation in an Accountability Conference, a Victim Empathy Seminar or a Restorative Justice Community Council.

Accountability Conference
A Restorative Justice facilitator meets separately with the victim and the youth who have committed the offense. Participation is voluntary for both. In order to participate in an Accountability Conference, the youth must agree to take responsibility for their actions and acknowledge the need to repair the harm done. In return, the victim must allow the offender the opportunity to make amends. 

• Conference takes place in a safe, neutral environment.
• A trained facilitator brings the victim, youth and their key supporters together for a face-to-face conference.  The parties discuss the situation and the harm that it caused. 
• The facilitator helps the participants communicate in a respectful way and come to a mutually acceptable agreement on ways to repair the harm done.

Victim Empathy Seminar
This seminar promotes empathy and understanding by teaching offenders about the human consequences of crime. During the class, offenders are encouraged to accept responsibility for their past harmful actions. At the conclusion of the class, the offender writes a letter of apology to their victims.

• Four-hour seminar includes the juvenile and their parents.
• The seminar is designed to help the juvenile:
  1. Hear how their actions impacted the victim, their family and the community.
  2. Accept responsibility and become accountable for their actions. 
  3. Develop ways to respond to their victim with sincere understanding and concern.
  4. Develop personal safety skills that focus on crime prevention.
  5. Identify ways to better contribute to the community

Community Restorative Justice Council
This program provides a community response to crime. The council is composed of a variety of community members who follow a structured process to address juvenile crime. It gives offenders, their parent(s) and community members the opportunity to be involved and come to a mutual agreement on ways to repair the harm done.

• This option is used when the offense has impacted a whole community or when an individual victim does not want to, or is not available to participate in a Juvenile Accountability Conference.
• The legal violation and its impact are discussed. 

Who benefits?
Restorative Justice provides positive benefits to the victim, the youth who has caused the harm and the community.

The Victim

• Has the opportunity to tell the offender how the offense has impacted them.
• Has input on creating a plan that address the harm done, not just the incident itself.
• Can ask the youth questions about the incident.
• Gains a sense of closure and a belief that the best has come from a bad situation.

The Youth Who Has Committed the Offense

• Has a voice in how to repair the harm, rather than just receive punishment.
• Has an opportunity to offer an explanation and an apology.
• Can see how their actions have hurt others.

The Community

• Can experience a reduction in long-term crime.
• Animosity and tension among people & groups in the community is diminished.
• Can gain greater understanding and empathy of it's youth and their experiences and struggles.

Get Involved
If helping youth-at-risk is important to you, the Restorative Justice program and Lutheran Social Services/ND have several ways for you to get involved and make a difference.
 
Apply for a position on the Restorative Justice staff  
The Restorative Justice Program hires part-time staff to carry out it's work.  You’ll learn how to facilitate meetings between victims and juvenile offenders and gain valuable experience working in the field of youth services.  

Become a Restorative Justice volunteer  
Volunteers are needed to serve on Restorative Justice Councils. We also need people who have been victims of crime to share their experiences at Victim Empathy Seminars.

Give a financial gift   
Your gifts of support to Lutheran Social Services help us continue to help youth-at-risk get back on the right track.   

Contact Us
Joel Friesz, Program Director
Email: jfriesz@lssnd.org
1325 11th Street S.
Fargo, ND  58103
Phone: (701) 271-3241

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Teenage offenders, their families and their victims all benefit from face-to-face meetings in Accountability Conferences, an innovative Restorative Justice program offered statewide by Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota for the ND Juvenile Courts.
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