CJUS451 RJ

[nickashayeshaw]

[nickashayeshaw]

Reflection on Circling

Circling in restorative justice is to provide an opportunity for community members to come together to address harmful behavior in a process that explores harms and needs, obligations, and necessary engagement.  Circles should be used in homes and schools because this will be a way of demonstrating to children how to get help to resolve their problem. Also, the benefits of circles various where it can help identify who has been hurt and what must be done to repair the harm that was cause, and all parties work together to develop an agreement that resolves the issue.  All parties must assent in order for agreement to be reached.  This is where children will be able to know that being apart of circling will help them to achieve a reasonable out come.  Additionally, I believe that the items that are most important in circling is that of the taking piece and well as the heart.  The taking piece allows for the smooth flow of conversations around the circle, because its only the person with the talking piece is support to talk at that given time. While the heart represent love, where with love comes unity.  Thought unity comes the goal of mending broken relationships.

[nickashayeshaw]

Reflection on the ‘best practice’ factors that make restorative processes work

The way in which I will remember these best practices are through these images and sketches:

        i.            As I see this image, I remember that the first best practice speaks about communicating views of key participants if they are not present allowing as much time as is needed.

       ii.            The second-best practice speaks about developing processes which encourage empathy and understanding.  This sketch demonstrates that through communicating and listening we can develop the kill of understanding and empathy.

    iii.             

The third best practice state that creating an environment in which some reconciliation is possible if parties wish providing ongoing support for both offenders and victims. This image shows that the person is comfortable and feeling at home so they can accomplish their task. Which in a sense, once parties are comfortable during restorative justice practices, then they are more willing to share what truly is the issue.

  The fourth best practice that makes restorative justice work is providing secure and adequate funding to support the above. Form all great programs, it requires monetary support. Therefore, getting funding for restorative justice programs or practices is an important part of RJ.

[nickashayeshaw]

To New Beginnings

[nickashayeshaw]

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Revelation 21:1-5                                                                        (Nov 25)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Dear Journal,

After reading these bible verses, I am of the view that it is saying that when God come for this world there will be all things new, that is, there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  These new things will make life even more beautiful than before, because everything will be clean and pure.  There will not be any sign of sin, because God have erased such things. The world then will be fit for God himself, for eternity.  In this new world there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor will there be anymore pain, all these things will be wash away and become a thing of the pass.  For all the people who have accepted God, who have lifted up his name to the highest, they will live forever.  These bible verses may be applied to both my personal and professional lives, where in both lives each of my action will be a representative of Godlike character.  I will remain faithful through both life and glorified God in good times as well as through sorrow. As it relates to my professional life, these maybe applied in the sense where I maybe presented with a sensitive case to assess, I will try my best to ensure that the ending result will be fruitful for all parties, as well as ensuring that the victim may have clarity and closure from the harm they would have suffer. They will be able to heal, so as not to have anymore pain.

[nickashayeshaw]

Reflection on Sensitive and Complex Cases

What new have you learnt?                                                           (Nov 25)

           Form the class discussion on Restorative Justice in Complex and Sensitive Cases, I learnt that there are sensitive cases in which restorative justice programs may be used in. Cases such as domestic violence/abuse, sex offenses/sexual abuse, hate crime, and gangs.  Restorative just approaches are used by facilitators in various ways without re-victimizing victims or rubber-stamping abusive situations.  Also, when victim offender mediation is used in sensitive cases like domestic abuse the are certain preconditions are needed for mediation these includes, the victim has to agree, the violence has to stop, the perpetrator has to take responsibility, the perpetrator is the only one to blame not the victim, and the process only goes ahead with the agreement of the victim.

Is there a change in your mind on the use or application of restorative practices?

           Before I read the chapter, I did not believe that restorative justice would be ideal for cases such as rape and domestic abuse.  However, after my own reading as well as the discussion, I was able to see where restorative justice programs was in deed needed.  

In your journal, apply your perceptions of the use of restorative justice practices or the justice with complex and sensitive cases to that of religious beliefs.

I believe that the use of restorative justice practices in various cases can be beneficial for many individuals. Using restorative justice practices can reach to individuals on different levels because the different models will allow them the chance of expressing themselves which will help in ways such as healing.  Restorative justice practices can be use for restoring broken relationships among friends and family. The word restore appears 136 times the bible.  Here we see where restoration of relationship or health is about of the Christianity religion.  Therefore, using restorative justice practices is beneficial because God would want us to try various ways to resolve conflicts.  For instance, Psalm 51:12, says “restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” This verse establishes that once you lean on the strength of our lord in times of sorrow and pain, the lord can restore our spirit for the better.  The same can be said for restorative justice practices, where individual’s who participant in these programs get the chance repair their emotional and material suffering.

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Leviticus 19:15                                                                            (Nov 25)

 “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.”

Dear Journal,

This is a called to all Christians to judge our neighbour in righteousness, it is our duty to consider those motives which may corrupt our judgment.  We all should be kind and just to our brothers whatever the situation may be.  There are times when we may hear something about someone or what someone said about us, we should handle the matter as how we would want it to be handle if was reverse.  That is, we should not just to conclusion, nor should we judge someone based on more character.  Every one makes mistakes; therefore, we have to learn how to forgive each other.  This can be applied to both my personal and professional life by not jumping to conclusion when we are faced with certain situations, instead I should be fair in judging others.

[nickashayeshaw]

[nickashayeshaw]

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Proverbs 4:18                                                                          (Nov 25)

” But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the prefect day”

This is saying that as we seek to disassociate ourselves from evil, we have to remember we are like shining light, shining more and more on a perfect day and the perfect day comes when the gospel is culminated, when God present himself with his appearance and we are redeemed from this same curse earth. Therefore, we should continue to do all thing that is right be the will come a time that the just will be rewarded for be just. That is, once we are righteous in the light of God then we will be among the one that are safe for the brighter days, when the is no more sorrow and pain.  As it relates to my personal life, from summer last year I have been faced with different trials, from losing loves, to nearly losing one brother, to spending the weekend in the hospital October month end of this year. There are times when it was really hard to continue on, it was hard to focus on my school work, there are time when I have trouble doing school work with everything that is going on. Nonetheless, I continue to push through with the help of God, because with him I know that they are brighter days.  I believe that in my professional life I may be faced with hard times, but I have to remain strong and continue to fight the fight.

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Proverbs 24:1                                                                                (Oct.26)

“Be not thou envious against evil men neither desire to be with them.”

Dear Journal,

This is saying that, that there are some persons who have a jealously problem, where they do not like to see others have what they can not have.  As a result, they will do things such as stealing, adultery, killing, among others to achieve these things.  This particular bible verse brings the Strain Theory to mind, where this theory looks on the notion that if individuals can not achieve their goal through legitimate means then they deviate from societal norms to achieve such goals. These persons are the evil men, and we should not be jealous or envious of them. We should try to abstain of the allowing temptation of evil men, the richest, the grandiose.  These are things that may come as a blessing, which can be once they are achieve the right way.  However, in this context, these are not blessing, yes it may help to better our lifestyle, but because it does achieve through jealously, at the end of the day the reward is death. This may be applied to my personal life by not seeing and wanting what others have, to not be jealous of the achievement of others. Because I do not know how they achieve theirs, instead, I should be happy for they achieve and encourage them to keeping doing their best. In regards to my professional life, there may be instance where others are promoted are just seem to be doing better than be, I won’t be envious of them instead I will motivate them to keep doing they job as well as help them in ways that I can.  I remember when I was working in a particular department store, I start out at the bottom, however while there, I would help others in their departments, where I learn a lot of things form doing.  Once, my co-worker said that I should not be helping others because I was not getting extra pay to do so, I told her that I do not do it for that instead for what I can learn.  So, in all things be your own person and do not be jealous of others.

[nickashayeshaw]

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Deuteronomy 15:7-8                                                                   (Oct.12)

“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth”

Dear Journal,

After reading these two bibles verses, I understand that when we are in the position of helping others may it be financial or emotional then we should do so. We should not let negative feelings comes in the way of what can be the helping hand that someone else is in need of. Just as how we want God to help us in various circumstances, when we can we should assist others to the best of our ability.  There are times when we are the angels working on behalf of our Lord. There maybe instances where we are going to be cautious in lending to the poor or lending a helping hand, because we may be thinking, if we are going to get back what we have loan, or if helping this particular person is going to prevent us from helping another person.  Now we can consider all this, however we should not let these things stops us from helping our neighbor, as we should treat everyone equally as God himself. This can be applied to my personal life in the sense that I always try to assist others the way I can. There are times when I am asking questions that I am not sure of, however, I let the person know that although I am not certain about it, I will help in any way I can.  I will either advise them to try another source or I will look into it for them myself. For my professional life, I will be helping others regardless of the situation.  

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Proverbs 21:15                                                                       (Oct.07)

“It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.”

Dear Journal,

After reading proverbs 21:15 I understand that Ecclesiastes was taking about great men and great women.  That is, great Christian’s are passionate and zealous about doing what is right and they did it with joy and justice.  Although, I am of the view that not only Christians should these have characters. We all should do things that are right because it brings us and others joy. We should ask ourselves, what would we do sometimes when we need someone to cheer us up but no one is there? That’s why I believe that no matter what the circumstance is we are to do the right thing because we might just be the light that someone is looking for.  Also, from this text, in other hands the wicked men choose to do evil, and God destroy them. That is, if we continue to do things that are wrong, and choose not to learn form it, then there will be a day that we do not get the chance to right these wrongs.  Therefore, we should learn from our mistakes and try our best not to repeated them, so that we won’t be destroy by our Lord.  As it relates to my personal life and professional life, I try my best not to do anything wrong that would cause anyone harm or sadness or even myself.  Though there are times when I do not necessary aim to cause sadness but that is what happens, nevertheless, I apologize for doing such acts, as well as try my at most best not to repeat the act or voice the statement again.  For my professional life there maybe times when I may offend my colleagues then and there, I am supposed to do the right thing, and apologize.  Also, in my professional life there maybe a time when I maybe offered bribe, however I should know that this is where the latter part of the text comes in, that is, though it may not be God that will destroy me for the wrong here, it will be my superior.  It may result in a job loss.  So not all time we so should do what is right regardless of the outcome.

[nickashayeshaw]

[nickashayeshaw]

Motivational Message

Proverbs 12:15                                                                                (Oct.5)

 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

Dear Journal,

This is saying that every fool thinks he is right. He cannot think otherwise.  In his view he thinks that everyone else is wrong.  But a wise man learns to resent his own thoughts.  In these cases, the wise man knows they are selfish, biased, and deceitful. Instead he listens attentively and submissively to the counsel of others, for he knows they are speaking with less selfishness, bias, and deceit than his heart thinks. Thinking beyond what is infront of you tends to works wonders and well as always learning from one failure as this is a source of knowledge.  From this bible verse, I believe that it can be incorporated in both my personal and professional life in these sense that there will be instead in both life that I will fail at something, however I should not let this determine my faith instead I have to learn from it, as to not to let it happen again.  Also, there will be things that I do not know, or that I think I known but it’s wrong, I should be willing to learn from my mistakes.