Corrections_Today_September_October_2019_Vol.81_No.5

Correctional Chaplain Perspectives

Becoming whole Chaplains are often interested in the faith basis of programs. In his most recent edition of “Changing Lenses: Restorative Justice in Our Times,” Howard Zeher writes that restorative justice is set on founda- tions of shalom/salaam and justice. 3 Shalom/salaam is seen as health and wholeness of the whole being and the community. Wholeness and well- ness encompass all domains of one’s life: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, relational and social. Key aspects include a sense of belonging, personal security and having basic necessities met. Part of having shalom/salaam in- cludes a sense of justice, that all are being treated fairly, and that when things go wrong in relationships and neighborhoods, they will be made right. In many faith traditions, com- munity members, including persons in leadership and power, are often called out to “make right” injustices they are perpetrating on others. The goal of restorative justice is dealing with the trauma of the victim, offender and community holistically so that the healing and restoration of relationships can take place in communities. The needs of all are to be met through com- munity intervention so that people have a greater sense of shalom and justice, leading participants to take responsibility for their actions and obligations. Wrongs are made right and then restoration occurs. Community-based programming A current and common theme in the criminal justice system is community-based interventions.

In order to make a transition to a more community-based correctional system from an institutional-based system, restorative justice programs have been proposed to prevent incarceration initially. The focus on interventions where healing the relationship between the offender and victim and their community are elevated in importance, with the community being more involved in restoring the offender to their community. The goal of restorative justice is dealing with the trauma of the victim, offender and community holistically so that the healing and restoration of relationships can take place in communities. Restorative practices have gener- ally started with the juvenile system of victim-offender programs as an intervention to avoid incarceration. Here, the victim’s position is heard by the offender and the offender ac- cepts responsibility and restitution. Conflict resolution, mediation and vi- olence reduction programs in schools

are promoted. Expanding this type of intervention into the community for adults is being suggested as a way to work through disputes and injury in lieu of incarceration. Chaplains can help with victim advocate programs in communities. These programs are an important step in supporting and encourag- ing those who are victimized and can help discourage the tendency of community members, including faith community members, to blame the victim when they are part of a marginalized group or disenfran- chised by the community. Such is the case where many are poor, homeless, people of color, LGBTQ and women. When the perpetrator of a crime is not found or cannot make restitu- tion, the community can consider ways to assist with restitution of the victims, like helping cover the costs of treatment and counseling, so they can feel that wrongs are being “made right” in some way. Victims and surviving family members also seek to understand why the offender did what they did and regain a sense of safety and security. Victim-offender conferences, which the chaplain can help facilitate, may help some people work through their struggle toward personal healing and transitioning from victim to “survivor.” Offenders usually do not feel included in this sense of shalom/ salaam as members of communities. Offenders living and growing up in their community milieu of violence and intimidation feel victimized by individuals and groups, including the police and criminal justice system. When they are injured, they do not feel that anyone seems to go about “making right” their victimization.

Corrections Today September/October 2019 — 11