Message from the Executive Director Fall/Winter 2013 | Page 3

What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative justice is a theory of justice with the goal of repairing the harm caused by delinquent behavior.
This goal is accomplished by bringing together the parties affected by the delinquent behavior; the offender,
the victim, and the community. The offender is held accountable by accepting responsibility and acting to
repair the harm done to the victim and the community. Restorative justice helps offenders understand the
implications of their actions and provides them an opportunity to reconnect with their community.
There are several community-based, non-adversarial, and informal restorative justice programs that are being used in the United States and internationally including family group conferences, victim-impact panels,
victim-offender mediation, circle sentencing, and community reparative boards.
Restorative justice has been successfully implemented both as a method of juvenile justice diversion as well a method of school based disciplinary diversion. It is
possible to transform to a restorative justice model if the community and organizational leadership embrace the change in philosophy. The approach requires
youth to take responsibility for their behavior and requiring them to repair the
harm they caused to the victim and community. The approach also requires the
involvement of victims and community members in the process and providing
services directed toward victims.
An interdisciplinary committee at NCCU is developing a community service project focused on restorative justice. Updates on the project will be provided as
they become available.

North Carolina Juvenile Justice Updates
Secretary Frank Perry of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced on
September 10th that the Division of Juvenile Justice and Division of Adult Corrections
will be consolidated to form a single Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.
Department leadership has indicated the changes only will affect upper management not
direct service delivery; however, some advocacy groups have spoken out against this
consolidation and its potential impact on juveniles.
Effective December 1, 2013, the Volunteer School Safety Resource Officer Program
authorizes sheriffs and chiefs of police to establish a volunteer school safety resource
officer (SSRO) program. A volunteer SSRO must have at least two years of experience as
either a sworn law enforcement officer or a military police officer. Volunteer SSROs are
also required to receive training on the social and cognitive development of school-age
children. The Volunteer School Safety Resource Officer Program is being implemented
along with other school safety efforts such as increased funding for school resource
officers and the establishment of the Center for Safer Schools.
Effective October 1, 2013 minors, defined as any person under the age of 18, are not
subject to prosecution for prostitution. Any minors suspected of prostitution must be
treated as undisciplined juveniles and taken into protective custody, DSS shall be
notified, and an investigation for abuse or neglect shall be initiated. These changes are
part of broader human trafficking prevention efforts in North Carolina.

http://www.nccu.edu/academics/institutesandcenters/jji/