Demonstration of restorative justice scheduled for Monday

CANTON, Mo. — An innovative form of mediation called restorative justice will be demonstrated during an event at 11:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 at the Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center at Culver-Stockton College.

A mock mediation will be performed by students in an Alternative Dispute Resolution course taught by Melody Schroer, associate professor of legal studies and department chair of criminal justice and legal studies. Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution during which a neutral third party facilitates a negotiation between disputing parties. The goal of mediation is to find common ground and reach a mutually agreeable resolution to the parties’ problems or concerns.

Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that includes all stakeholders.

This event will simulate a “community restorative circle” scenario involving a first-time juvenile delinquency issue. A teenager was caught shoplifting a low monetary value item and admits his guilt. Both the offender and store owner have chosen to try a restorative justice circle to come up with a way of resolving the matter, putting the juvenile court process on hold. The circle consists of the victim, the juvenile offender, his parent(s), the police officer, community members and the mediators/facilitators.

The demonstration is offered as an alternative response to crime while introducing new theories in the area of corrections.

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