New Juvenile Justice Program Begins In Salina
- Fri 06:18 AM 10/05/2012
The goal is to confront an offender with consequences of an apparently small crime. Victims have expressed satisfaction at having participation in the justice system and a chance to tell their story to the one who caused the problem.
Some Salina area juvenile offenders will now have to face up to their crimes – and to their victims. Saline County Attorney Ellen Mitchell has authorized referrals of certain juvenile cases to the Salina Initiative for Restorative Justice (SIRJ). At Mitchell’s urging, the program has been in the planning stages for more than a year. It is now funded by a six-month grant from the Salina Regional Health Foundation. Juvenile prosecutor Norman Davidson, Assistant County Attorney, referred the first cases to SIRJ this week.
Similar programs across the country and around the world have had documented success in crafting agreements and reducing the chance that juveniles wind up in trouble again. The goal of the process is to confront an offender with the greater consequences of an apparently small crime. Many victims have expressed satisfaction at having more participation in the justice system and a chance to tell their story – often quite forcefully – to the one who caused the problem.
Davidson will decide which cases to refer to the SIRJ program from Judge Jared Johnson’s courtroom. Davidson will focus on first-time offenders. If the youth participates in the program and successfully completes a “justice plan” – worked out in a mediator-assisted dialogue between victim and offender – Davidson will ask that the case be dismissed, and the youth’s record can remain unblemished. The justice plan will be designed to repair the damage, physical and emotional, caused by the crime. The program costs the offender $50 to participate. Victim participation is voluntary and free.
In August, twenty-one individuals – mediators and other community members – participated in a twelve-hour training program provided by the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) from Bethel College. Training was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Corrections and hosted by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. One mediator and one community member will be assigned to facilitate each victim-offender dialogue. Salina Police Department, Community Corrections and the Saline County District Court have expressed their support for the project. The non-mediator community mediators are referred to as co-mediators. One mediator and one co-mediator will be assigned to each case and will meet, first, with the offender, second, with the victim, and then jointly to work out the justice plan.
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Iamgonnagetyou
Friday 5 October 2012 08:12 Report this comment
Another waste of money. Evidently the county attorney no longer wants to do part of the job she's paid to do in handling juvenile crime. It will be interesting to see how many of these juveniles she pats on top of their heads become repeat offenders. But that will be hard to determine because juvenile crime records are not available to the public. Therefore if the praogram fails the county attorney has a free ride against taxpayers objecting.
whosyourdaddy
Friday 5 October 2012 09:49 Report this comment
I don't think it's that bad of an idea... Usually first time offenders juveniles become terrified enough when facing a judge. So I agree with the first part, facing up to their crime, and facing the victim. However, I think a standard rule needs to be put in place. A rule should be added, stating, "This is your first, and last chance. If you are arrested again, you will be locked up for your crime, plus the first one will be revoked, and you will be locked up additional time for your first crime as well." These kids know they can pretty much get away with anything...
xinas3
Friday 5 October 2012 12:10 Report this comment
I think this is an excelelnt idea. It actually brings the victim and the juvenile offender together for the offender to hear how their action caused harm to the victim. I have had a professional relationship with both Ms. Mitchell and Mr. Davidson and I know they are committed to trying to help these kids who make bad choices while still making them accountable for thier actions. If punishment worked as Iamgonnagetyou appears to be in favor for, then no one would be a repeat offender. Juvenile crime records are not available to the public, but they are available to the people who need them - the court and key players therein.
Victory2012
Friday 5 October 2012 19:21 Report this comment
@iam, this is on of the most widely celebrated programs in the world to help victims and offenders and, therefore, society in general. I am not surprised you oppose good programs, but what in the hell are you talking about? "it will be interesting to see how many juveniles she pats on the head? Huh? "Therefore" if the program fails the county attorney has a free ride against taxpayers objecting? Huh? I mean, you don't even make sense. Think man, think.
Iamgonnagetyou
Friday 5 October 2012 19:49 Report this comment
Basically there is no checks and balances for this program. If the program is a failure no one outside the inner circle would ever know because all records are closed. In this day and age everyone looks after their own. Lawyers look after lawyers, judges after judges ect. I agree to the fact some kids could be helped but not enought to pour extra money into a program on its own. Judges could do the same thing without creating another agency. The kids that go before a judge and be instructed by the judge what is expected. Since there would be no checks and balances its like having the fox guarding the hen house.
Victory2012
Friday 5 October 2012 21:37 Report this comment
Where are you getting this information? This program has been around for many years all over the world and has a documented history of success by a number of measures. First, it is an excellent program to help victims. Victims get to confront offenders and get answers to their questions about why they were victimized, etc. . . . Offenders have to learn what impact their actions had on their victims so that hopefully they muster enough empathy not to reoffend.
Igotugood
Saturday 6 October 2012 00:05 Report this comment
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
RitchieStans
Saturday 6 October 2012 10:42 Report this comment
This will work out great untill a kid kills the person that filed a report against him or the victim "teaches the kid a lesson" about breaking in to cars.
THEENFORCER
Saturday 6 October 2012 14:00 Report this comment
wHERE ARE you getting your info victoryredneck. Any juvenile records are not available for anyone to see which has been explained by someone else. So how can you or anyother outside person know how successful it really is? You cannot go by the people wanting the funding as we no longer live in an honest world.
Victory2012
Saturday 6 October 2012 15:47 Report this comment
RitchieStans, they screen these cases very carefully and it is a mutual decision - victim and offender. And @the, as usual, you are babbling again. If you take a few minutes to research (that means lookup), you will be able to correct some of your absurd assumptions. Good luck. LOL.
Iamgonnagetyou
Saturday 6 October 2012 15:55 Report this comment
Hey victory why don't you answer the enforcer's question? Seems to me you like to use this against others but when someone turns the tables you ignor them. Answer the man.
Victory2012
Saturday 6 October 2012 17:25 Report this comment
@iam, we all know what it seems like to you, but that is because you either cannot or will not listen to reason. For example, you claim the program is bad and has no oversight because juvenile records are resealed. That's ludicrous. It is the same ridiculous argument you made before about crime stats. YOU don't have the access to the records so your argument has no factual support. But I get my information from life-long learning, research, and experience, and know for a fact, like the story says, that this program works for a great many victims and offenders. And I know for a fact that crime is down more than 1/3 in the past decade. And I know for a fact that SPD takes reports on LEGITIMATE theft reprots and online self-reprots for others. By the way, you did not answer my question. What is your beef with the Sheriff and Police Chief? I mean, how many times do you ahe to be asked before you answer the woman?
THEENFORCER
Saturday 6 October 2012 21:52 Report this comment
Boy victoryredneckwatch you got a one track mind. Explain to me how anyone can tell if the program works when the public does not have access to the records or names of the individuals? There is no way anyone outside the court systems can verify if this program worked or not. The only thing you are going on are some supposed statements made somewhere by individuals associated with court services. Again the fox guarding the hen house.
THEENFORCER
Saturday 6 October 2012 21:54 Report this comment
You know if you would read iamgonna posts without looking for something to bully on you might understand what they are saying. It seems the rest of us do.
REDNECKAVENGER
Saturday 6 October 2012 22:05 Report this comment
If these kid's daddy's took them out to the wood shed and tanned their behinds there would be no reason to even be discussing this let alone having a program.
Victory2012
Sunday 7 October 2012 00:47 Report this comment
I read your post under the id @iam and it is completely illogical. You claim the program is a waste of money simply because you believe nobody has oversight of the program BECAUSE YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM. You are simply speculating, again incorrectly, that the program lacks oversight. And when someone disagrees with you you log on and off under different ids throwing temper tantrums and its time the administration put a stop to it so the rest of us can debate the issue and not read your and rants and meltdowns. Good grief, this is just a web blog man. Get a grip on yourself.
Aurora
Sunday 7 October 2012 02:05 Report this comment
@Victory2012, give it up...I have been on KSAL for years, I know those people/username quite well. Those people have the thick skull, their head is so filled in with hydroxylapatite and calcium carbonate (aka bone) that there is barely any brain left, they headbutted on the wall and on each other too much. You will never convince them that they are wrong or whatever but they are surprisingly easy to be manipulated by someone like RedNeckWatch.
Iamgonnagetyou
Sunday 7 October 2012 10:40 Report this comment
Aurora if you been on here for a long time and are not apart of this persons Imagination then you could see through their tactics. Even on this post there is an exchange of comments until the bullying begins with this person using others posting names. Further then statements are made by them that are identical to previous statements months ago under different posting names. Herein lies the problem. If you are part of this we do not need you or them on here.
Iamgonnagetyou
Sunday 7 October 2012 10:51 Report this comment
Evidently victory has isolated me, out making false accusations because I tell it like it is rather then play games like he or she likes to do. It is very easy to see in the many different posts on here the bully always takes the other side of the issue just to stir the pot and then brings in other id's. What the administrator needs to do is restructure this site toss out all id's and verify people who wish to post on here. That would put a stop to all of this.
ConservativeR
Sunday 7 October 2012 15:54 Report this comment
Iamgonnagetu, you, sir, are the bully with multiple identifications, and you have been bullying people since you showed up on this site. I have complained to the administrator and perhaps enough people have complained by now that he/she will finally but a stop to your abusive behavior. You dominate this site and almost never post anything relevant to the news story at hand. Enough is enough.
Aurora
Sunday 7 October 2012 23:38 Report this comment
@ Iamgonnagetyou, I know trolls' tactics and their mindsets...but I don't care enough to get involved in. Also I do not care much about people having multiple I.D.. Trolls' such as Whocares and RedNeckWatch, their tactics is to p#ss you off, make you and others miserable, and send you and others into delusional rampage accusing other people of being RedNeckWatch and Whocares. You and others like Equineman, THEENFORCER, and getalife took the trolls' hook and fell for it, giving them endless entertainments!
Aurora
Sunday 7 October 2012 23:48 Report this comment
@ Iamgonnagetu, like ConservativeR said, you and others are the bully who put me and others down long before RedNeckWatch and Whocares showed up. Also I do remember you guys bullying me around and I don't ever recall insulting you guys back but I came very close of becoming a troll! You, Equineman, theenforcer, getalife, and few others created the trolls and set them off and beats you guys up with their insults!
Aurora
Sunday 7 October 2012 23:50 Report this comment
The only reason why I didn't become a troll is because I want to be a better person than you guys instead of stooping to your level.
Igotugood
Monday 8 October 2012 00:15 Report this comment
Love you Aurora. Hahahahahahahahhaahahahahahaahahah
GETALIFE674
Wednesday 10 October 2012 00:55 Report this comment
Eviedently it is ok for you to use our taxpayer money to go to school in Manhattan. Then come on here and make false accusations against those individuals paying for your education. why not let those you side with put you through college. That's right you would have enought money for a few weeks and not go very far.