| History |
Our HistoryThe South St. Paul Restorative Justice Council was created in 1996. A member of the community was dissatisfied with the way the court system dispensed justice to two juveniles who were convicted of vandalizing his house. He began investigating alternative ways of resolving disputes within communities and became familiar with the basic principles of Restorative Justice. He brought his knowledge to the community through a variety of forums within churches, schools, and city organizations.Several key individuals, including school administrators, corrections staff, judges, and attorneys, responded to using restorative measures. Policies were created for how and when an offense committed in South St. Paul would be handled through Restorative Justice rather than the court system. The South St. Paul Restorative Justice Council was formed to oversee the process and results within these cases. Funding was obtained through grants to establish three full-time staff positions within the schools and one part-time position focused on community cases. The Council has 501(c)(3) status, and is funded by private and public grants and donations. The Case That Started It AllTwo juveniles vandalized a house; or so they thought. The damage amounted to $10,000. With the help of the owner, they learned that it was a home, filled with memories, family treasures, hopes and dreams. The “safe place” that we all call “home” had been violated. The owner of the home wanted to know “Why?” and to help the juveniles reconnect to the neighborhood in a healthy way. The traditional court system eventually included the victim in the process, and the results were life changing for all involved. The owner of the home went on to gather others in the community to learn of alternative ways of resolving disputes. The basic principles of Restorative Justice, based on ancient community practices, appealed to the sensibilities of all involved as a practical, effective, and sustainable approach to conflict and crime. |
The Beginning 