April 10-16, 2011 will mark the 6th annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW). Every victim of crime - no matter who they are, where they live or the way in which they were victimized – should be treated with compassion and respect for their dignity.
Victims of crime have a role in our justice systems and there are laws, policies and programs which give them an opportunity to participate and have their voices heard at different stages in the criminal justice process. The dedication of professionals and volunteers alike who work tirelessly and selflessly with victims of crime and their families and who show, in their daily actions, that every victim truly does matter.
In Canada the theme of Victims Awareness Week is "Many Voices, Many Paths." In the US the theme is "Reshaping the Future - Honoring the Past."
We have compiled some resources below should you choose to participate in National Victims of Crime Awareness Week. Please contact John Lamsma at jlamsma@crcna.org with any questions. John de Vries is out of the country until the end of March, but can be contacted after that at johndevries@crcna.org.
Resource Guide
Canada: Working with Victims
US: Reshaping the Future - Honoring the Past
Sermon Series and Worship Resources
Our thanks to Howard VanderWell for his suggestions and recommendations for litanies and sermon themes
Books
Victim Offender Conferencing
Victim offender dialogues have been developed as a way to hold offenders accountable to the person they have harmed and to give victims a voice about how to put things right. It is a way of acknowledging the importance of the relationship, of the connection which crime creates. Granted, the relationship is a negative one, but there is a relationship.
Rooted in the practices of native peoples, the intentional act of bringing victims and offenders together has been happening for more than 30 years.
"Conferencing" addresses victims' discomfort with the idea of "reconciliation." It avoids the connotation that victims may negotiate their losses when they hear the term "mediation." "Conferencing" acknowledges the participatory nature of the process. And it gives flexibility about who is included, making room for members of the larger community if appropriate.
This practical Little Book looks at:
- Why someone would participate in a conference
- How the process works
- How very “serious” cases are handled
- Barriers and benefits in the process
Circle Processing
Our ancestors gathered around a fire in a circle, families gather around their kitchen tables in circles, and now we are gathering in circles as communities to solve problems. The practice draws on the ancient Native American tradition of a talking piece and combines that with concepts of democracy and inclusivity.
Peacemaking Circles are used in neighborhoods to provide support for those harmed by crime and to decide sentences for those who commit crime, in schools to create positive classroom climates and resolve behavior problems, in the workplace to deal with conflict, and in social services to develop more organic support systems for people struggling to get their lives together.
The Circle process hinges on storytelling. It is hard work, but it is an effort bringing astonishing results around the country.
Biblical Justice
The purpose of this Little Book is to identify some characteristic features of the Bible's teaching on justice. The Bible has had a profound impact on the development of Western culture. So exploring biblical perspectives on justice can help us appreciate some of the convictions and values that have helped shape Western political and judicial thought.
Christians also regard the Bible as a uniquely important source of guidance on matters of belief and practice. What the Bible has to say about justice, therefore -- both social justice and criminal justice -- ought to be of great significance for Christian thought and action today.
Yet coming to grips with biblical teaching on justice is by no means easy.
Upfront, Marshall addresses the many complexities that surround "justice" in the Bible: the Bible seems to hold conflicting points of view; there is a huge amount of data to deal with; the world of the Bible and our present world are vastly different.
Marshall's honest treatment of this subject is direct, yet almost lyrical in tone. He manages a thorny, multi-faceted subject clearly and ultimately singles out the broad areas of theological agreement among the Bible's writers.
Family Group Conferencing
Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are the primary forum in New Zealand for dealing with juvenile crime as well as child welfare issues. This third volume in The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding Series is about the juvenile justice system that is built around these conferences.
Since their introduction in New Zealand, Family Group Conferences have been adopted and adapted in many places throughout the world. They have been applied in many arenas including child welfare, school discipline, and criminal justice, both juvenile and adult. In fact, FGCs have emerged as one of the most promising models of restorative justice.
This Little Book describes the basics and rationale for this approach to juvenile justice, as well as how an FGC is conducted.
Looking for more resources?
