Re-entry Circles for the Innocent: The Psychological Benefits of Restorative Justice and Taking Responsibility in Response to Injustice
Walker, Re-entry Circles for the Innocent: The Psychological Benefits of Restorative Justice and Taking Responsibility in Response to Injustice, pp. 139-157, The Psychology of Restorative Justice: Managing the Power Within, Ed. Theo Gavrielides, Ashgate: Surrey, England 2015
23 Pages Posted: 30 Jun 2016 Last revised: 15 Apr 2017
Date Written: September 1, 2015
Abstract
While restorative practices are generally for people who take responsibility for committing crimes, there are psychological advantages in assuming responsibility for dealing with injustice regardless of who caused the problems. This kind of responsibility taking is future oriented and is not the same as being accountable for committing a crime. This paper examines what taking responsibility means for reentry planning circles. The circles apply restorative justice and solution-focused brief therapy for incarcerated individuals to plan for their needs, including making amends with harmed loved ones, and others, who meet with them in prison. The case of a convicted woman who maintains her innocence, but who had a reentry circle, is studied.
Keywords: restorative justice, solution focused, solution-focused brief therapy, accountabiity, responsibility, reentry, reentry planning, circles, therapeutic jurisprudence, integrative law
JEL Classification: K49, K14, J71, I31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation