Rehab, not punishment, key in youth corrections
Claire Konecny
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: News
What's something Saint Mary's professors, a judge, and San Quentin Prison have in common? They share an interest in restorative justice.
On Wednesday, October 7, CILSA sponsored a panel discussion entitled "Roots and Redemption." The panelists included local film director Tamara Perkins, Alameda County Juvenile Courts Judge Gail Brewster Bereola, and Professors John Ely, Barbara McGraw and Peter Freund of Saint Mary's.
Perkins began the conversation by screening a few clips from her newest film in progress, The Trust. The film focuses on a self-help program inside San Quentin called the National Trust for Development of African American Men. According to the film, the program is about working with the incarcerated men to "turn liabilities into assets." The men are taught skills that will enable them to become a benefit to their families and communities once out of prison, and hopefully keep them out of the justice system.
Bereola has started a similar program aimed at creating change in the Juvenile Justice system, called Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, or RJOY. In dealing with juvenile offenders, Bereola realized most of the youths lacked guidance and a nurturing environment, and if they were sent back to where they came from, they would likely become repeat offenders.
RJOY brings together law officers, community organizations, schools, the offender's family and anyone else victimized by the crime in order to "address the harm done in a unified way." It creates a situation where the youth is "involved and held accountable" for their actions.
Saint Mary's professors are also working to create restorative justice in our community. Sociology Professor John Ely, has students visit county rehab centers and halfway houses as part of their community based research. While there, the students hear stories from the men and women in these programs.
Business Administration Professor Barbara McGraw works to integrate the plight of religious pluralism with that of prison policies and rehabilitation. McGraw expressed that "it's time for justice to take off the blindfold and see everyone as the beautiful, unique human being that everyone absolutely is."
Likewise, Art Professor Peter Freund is currently working to develop a new course that involves both visual media and social justice. Freund believes that people need to take ownership of the issues in our justice system by "realizing what it is you can do, and acting on that."
On Wednesday, October 7, CILSA sponsored a panel discussion entitled "Roots and Redemption." The panelists included local film director Tamara Perkins, Alameda County Juvenile Courts Judge Gail Brewster Bereola, and Professors John Ely, Barbara McGraw and Peter Freund of Saint Mary's.
Perkins began the conversation by screening a few clips from her newest film in progress, The Trust. The film focuses on a self-help program inside San Quentin called the National Trust for Development of African American Men. According to the film, the program is about working with the incarcerated men to "turn liabilities into assets." The men are taught skills that will enable them to become a benefit to their families and communities once out of prison, and hopefully keep them out of the justice system.
Bereola has started a similar program aimed at creating change in the Juvenile Justice system, called Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, or RJOY. In dealing with juvenile offenders, Bereola realized most of the youths lacked guidance and a nurturing environment, and if they were sent back to where they came from, they would likely become repeat offenders.
RJOY brings together law officers, community organizations, schools, the offender's family and anyone else victimized by the crime in order to "address the harm done in a unified way." It creates a situation where the youth is "involved and held accountable" for their actions.
Saint Mary's professors are also working to create restorative justice in our community. Sociology Professor John Ely, has students visit county rehab centers and halfway houses as part of their community based research. While there, the students hear stories from the men and women in these programs.
Business Administration Professor Barbara McGraw works to integrate the plight of religious pluralism with that of prison policies and rehabilitation. McGraw expressed that "it's time for justice to take off the blindfold and see everyone as the beautiful, unique human being that everyone absolutely is."
Likewise, Art Professor Peter Freund is currently working to develop a new course that involves both visual media and social justice. Freund believes that people need to take ownership of the issues in our justice system by "realizing what it is you can do, and acting on that."