(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.
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