(bright music) - [Offender] Usually, me and Raynard just go to the park to hang out and play and whatnot, and then out of curiosity, we just jumped the fence to the school. We walked around and then we found the open window. We were actually surprised that this was all happening. Wow, this is crazy. After we finished trashing the classroom, we bolted out and then went straight to my house. I can't believe that we just did this. - Came in to work and my finance secretary called me and she said, "Mr. Christman, you better come over here. "There's been a break-in." - [Offender] I felt really guilty because I knew the amount of damage was significant. - It had been completely trashed. I've seen tagging and broken windows, but nothing of this magnitude. - [Offender] There were pictures online. It was posted on a closed group page on Facebook. - I think it was the court system that contacted me and asked if I would be willing to go through the Restorative Justice process with the perpretators. - [Narrator] For the last 20 years, the Restorative Justice Mediation Program has been working to improve the lives of people affected by crime through Victim Offender Dialogue. - [Offender] When RJMP was introduced to my family, they were really happy and excited about it because they knew that it was a program that would help me. - I was able to facilitate a situation between the offender being juveniles and the victim being a school. - The kind of cases that work best for Restorative Justice Victim Offender Dialogue are cases where there's a clear offender and a clear victim. - So this empowers them and allows them an opportunity to have a voice and to directly address the person that's committed the harm. - At the moment that I experienced that, I saw that there was healing. - Something like Restorative Justice, where an offender has the opportunity to see the person who they offended face-to-face and to have dialogue with them will be, and always has been, one of the most important tools in rehabilitating. - This is a great opportunity for the victim and the offender to get together and have some closure. - [Offender] When I was in the same room as the principal and I did look him in the eye, and I did say, "I'm sorry," it felt very relieving because I've always wanted to get that off my chest. I was really sad. I started crying because the principal was such a really nice guy. - Wow, the power of an apology, if it's a sincere apology, it's almost like completely removing any kind of ill-doing that was done in the first place. - I think it's hard to conceptualize if you just hear about this, that a victim and offender can really come together and leave different people, be completely transformed. - Transformation is what we're looking for. - The impact it's had on me is given me faith in humanity. - Transforming lives. Victims' lives, offenders' lives, their families, communities impacted by crime. - [Offender] We have worked a plan to help with the restitution. We are doing community service at the school. - I kind of stuck to my guns regarding the work that I wanted them to do. - [Offender] I actually enjoy the work because I know that I'm finally giving back to the school and I have a chance to right my wrongs. - They can change, they can transform, even under the worst circumstances. - My role in sending cases to RJMP is to ensure that the probation officers in our department know what's available out there for the victims and the offenders. - [Narrator] Victim/offender dialogue is not "soft on crime." It holds offenders accountable to victims, families, and communities. For offenders who complete a victim/offender dialogue program, the rate of re-offending drops up to 60%. Over 90% of crime victims who participate report satisfaction. - I think what we need from the community is support. We need people to talk to other people about the program. The other thing, frankly, that we can use from the community is financial support. This program is privately funded. It's funded by private foundations and individuals who are passionate about the work we do. - I would definitely recommend the program to other people. - [Narrator] San Diego needs the Restorative Justice Mediation Program. If you share our values for lasting, transformative, restorative justice, please join us and support our efforts today. Visit our website at sdrjmp.org. Thank you. (logo zapping) (logo popping)