Whose Side Are You On?

Friday, December 17th, 2010

 This blog post was first published on rjonline.org

Many thoughts run through my mind when I consider the work I have done over many years in the restorative justice field. I often say when I am speaking publicly on the subject that my understanding of it and how I speak about it has changed since the early ‘90s. I think of some seminal moments that have had an effect on my thinking about justice and justice reform.  I’ve been lucky enough to have a diverse set of experiences in this field. Perhaps, it’s because I’m drawn to a deeper understanding of the work. I think that is true for many in this field. My experience has not been one-sided. That is I have worked on “both sides of the aisle,” if you will, working on issues from the victim’s side but also from the offender’s side as well.

I am often asked how I got into prison reform work or justice work. I worked in the health care field in Los Angeles in the late 1980’s where I heard Chuck Colson on the radio. I was drawn to that interview which led me to learn more about Prison Fellowship. During that interview I first heard the phrase “restorative justice”.  Colson’s description of it stirred me. I have always been pulled towards any fight for justice and civil rights and often am ready to battle for those who are victims of injustice. My first experience with the prison field was as a volunteer for a Prison Fellowship program which matched you with an inmate to exchange letters as a pen pal. I realized though that my passion and my work experience in public policy and advocacy was better applied by working for PF’s sister group, Justice Fellowship.

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