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TURNING OF THE HEARTS
ABOUT TURNING OF THE HEARTS
Turning of the Hearts (TOTH) is a restorative model of aftercare which has been developed to provide more effective support for crime survivors, prisoners and ex-prisoners and their families. It forms part of the 2006 Report of the Cabinet-appointed Committee to Develop a Comprehensive Plan to Treat With the Situation on Ex-Prisoners in Trinidad and Tobago.TOTH focuses on the following key areas:-
(1) Networking and capacity building of NGOs which work in the sector;
(2) Educating the public about restorative justice and restorative behaviour;
(3) Create a national framework to mentor and hold ex-prisoners accountable;
(4) Empowering local communities to better support crime survivors; and
(5) The improvement of community safety.
The first leg of TOTH has been conducted by CURB since 2005 and the process of networking is ongoing with several organisations aligning themselves with CURB as affiliates since May 2005. Several training and empowerment sessions have already been conducted to enhance the communications, technological and counselling capabilities of NGOs in the sector.
The second leg of TOTH is an extensive undertaking which involves the conduct of several public education programmes to inform the general public about the various aspects of restorative justice. The first such Restorative Justice Exhibition was held on Monday 13th November, 2006 to open Restorative Justice Week 2006. (For more information about the restorative justice exhibition and other events from Restorative Justice Week 2006 please visit our RJ Week 2006 Archive.)
The third leg of TOTH is also an ongoing project of CURB with training being conducted and organised in several key areas of competency for mentors such as counselling, crisis intervention, and stress management. A manual for training mentors is under preparation and other resources are being developed to train field workers and community chaplains.
The fourth leg of TOTH is being addressed by CURB in the form of the Restorative Justice Fund through which ex-offenders and the community effectively and compassionately support primary and secondary crime survivors. CURB is also preparing literary resources for distribution to the public on ways they can support crime survivors. These resources will be distributed at various Restorative Justice Exhibitions, outreaches and volunteer fairs to be held throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Much of the training for community chaplains under TOTH will enable them to work effectively with crime survivors as well as ex-prisoners.
The fifth leg of TOTH is the natural outcome of the successful fulfilment of the previous four aspects. CURB appreciates that this will NOT be an overnight process. However, once we as citizens of the Caribbean remain committed to the task, we shall see the manifestation of what we all desire - safer communities!
ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
As the term implies, restorative justice seeks to "make things right" - to bring balance and harmony back into the community and into the lives of crime survivors, after a crime has been committed. Making things right can take many forms, from victim-offender mediation (a face-to-face encounter and dialogue between crime survivor and offender), to sentencing circles (inspired by Aboriginal traditions), to community justice forums (bringing crime survivor and offender together with their supporters to discuss harm done and to create restorative solutions), and circles of support and accountability (developing restorative communities of support around ex-offenders that both support and hold the offender accountable). It can also include community service and financial reparation to the crime survivor.What all of these programmes have in common is that they focus on repairing the harm done when a crime is committed, rather than simply blaming and punishing. That does not mean that offenders "get off lightly." On the contrary, most offenders who have participated in some type of restorative justice say that it is much harder to face the crime survivors and community members than to simply "do time." Restorative justice encourages offenders to take personal responsibility for their actions, and to set about repairing the harm they have caused to crime survivors and the community.
For many crime survivors, being able to confront the one who harmed them, ask questions, receive a sincere apology, and obtain assurances that they will not be victimised in future, is often the key to healing and being able to put the past behind them. Others need to receive practical assistance in the form of trauma counselling, medical and financial help.
CURB appreciates that the populace of the Caribbean has been exposed to centuries of working within the traditional retributive paradigm in resolving crime and behavioural problems in their respective communities. Therefore, the adoption of a more restorative, supportive stance towards both wrongdoers and those harmed by their actions will require a "Turning of the Hearts" on the part of the regional community.
Such a transformation will undoubtedly require a regional education thrust to sensitise persons at every level of society about the value and success of restorative initiatives and a process of training to empower them to implement such processes. While this can be attained through activity at the "grassroots" level and thereby empower communities to resolve their conflicts without recourse to formal criminal justice structures, some government support to restorative justice must be present to ensure that it filters into and transforms criminal justice and penal systems.
On a wider scale, CURB is desirous of seeing persons live out restorative behaviour and true community values where each person in our nation would lend support and show true love to others without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, class, creed or experience. Unfortunately, in recent decades we as citizens have abdicated to the government and so-called specialised agencies our responsibility to raise our own children and those in our community and to care for and restore those who have been victimised and those who have offended. This smacks of selfishness and has led us to harden our hearts to those around us. We are less sensitive to the needs of others and this insensitivity grows as lawlessness increases.
CURB is determined to work towards a reversal of this trend and to encourage citizens to turn their hearts to one another again and thereby strengthen and support our primary institutions (family, church, social groups, etc.) and persons who have been affected by crime whether as crime survivors or offenders. They are a part of us - our children, relatives and acquaintances. Each of us therefore must make a difference if we are to Save The Next Generation.
Please do not hesitate to Contact CURB for further information about the Turning of the Hearts Programme.