"Restorative justice"

**Virago** · 15th March 2013, 18:24

This makes for some interesting reading:

http://aranakenny.blogspot.co.nz/

It's worthwhile clicking through some of the links to get all the details, but in a nutshell:

A Victoria University employee, doing caretaking and security work, steals a student's cellphone while working. Seven months later, the victim tracks the phone down using smart-phone technology, and hands the evidence to the police. The culprit is arrested and charged, and he admits the theft.

The crucial thing is how the university have handled it. They've decided that a simple "restorative justice" process is in order, with a letter of apology to be written, and a replacement sim-card provided. The victim rejects this approach, but it was thrust upon him anyway. The letter of apology was basically a self-absorbed "poor me, I got caught".

While I think the victim is being a little precious in withdrawing from the university, he raises some valid issues about the university's approach to the issue. The culprit keeps his job (in a position of trust) on the basis of a pseudo-apology.

I wonder what part of the process was "restorative"?

**tigertim20** · 15th March 2013, 18:35

I read this the other day -pretty messed up. If I ever flogged something while on the job Id expect to be down the road pretty fuckin fast!

as for leaving the university being precious, maybe, but if the victim feels that the incident wasn't deal with appropriately then what other option do they really have to show their disgust at the handling of it? Turning up to class as usual is a signal that you are going to accept it, choosing to leave, and doing so while publicly expressing WHY you are leaving brings a little more attention to the isse.
I wouldnt feel comfortable spending my $100,000 student loan at an institution that watches me get robbed and then does fuckall about it, especially when there are other universities that would love that chunk of cash.

**bogan** · 15th March 2013, 19:27

Yeh that's pretty rough. Seems like a better caretaker wouldn't be hard to find, or maybe he's kept his job cos he was giving someone a

The phd dude's got principles too, good on him.

**Mom** · 15th March 2013, 19:33

Originally Posted by Virago

I wonder what part of the process was "restorative"?

The part where it looks like the Uni was actually doing something, attempts to restore faith in their policies.

I actually think this sort of thinking (around many, many things) is way more prevalent in our tertiary institutions than we have a clue about.

Sent from my ignorant seat, in the computer room at the end of the hall.

**Usarka** · 15th March 2013, 19:36

Stole a phone? They should have slit his eyelids off and pissed on the scars.

**bogan** · 15th March 2013, 19:40

Originally Posted by Mom

The part where it looks like the Uni was actually doing something, attempts to restore faith in their policies.

I actually think this sort of thinking (around many, many things) is way more prevalent in our tertiary institutions than we have a clue about.

Sent from my ignorant seat, in the computer room at the end of the hall.

Yeh Uni's a a bit weird like that. As a career universitist, some of the shit you see which is just completely out touch with reality is pretty funny, as long as it only involves others of course

Sent from my thesis, using crayons and fingerpaints.

**yungatart** · 15th March 2013, 19:46

Originally Posted by Mom

The part where it looks like the Uni was actually doing something, attempts to restore faith in their policies.

I actually think this sort of thinking (around many, many things) is way more prevalent in our tertiary institutions than we have a clue about.

Sent from my ignorant seat, in the computer room at the end of the hall.

Not just tertiary institutions, the school I work in has introduced it this year as well.
It does my head in.
Bring back the cane...or give me a taser! PC BS

**300weatherby** · 15th March 2013, 19:52

Originally Posted by tigertim20

I read this the other day -pretty messed up. If I ever flogged something while on the job Id expect to be down the road pretty fuckin fast!

as for leaving the university being precious, maybe, but if the victim feels that the incident wasn't deal with appropriately then what other option do they really have to show their disgust at the handling of it? Turning up to class as usual is a signal that you are going to accept it, choosing to leave, and doing so while publicly expressing WHY you are leaving brings a little more attention to the isse.
I wouldnt feel comfortable spending my $100,000 student loan at an institution that watches me get robbed and then does fuckall about it, especially when there are other universities that would love that chunk of cash.

I no longer have faith or belief in the system, the time has come that we deal with the crims and deadbeats ourselves, the police can't be arsed dealing with crime below rape and murder, the courts don't actually punish the crims, mainly because the judges are/have never been, on the receiving end of criminal behaviour and have no concept of it, sentencing is allways based on predetermined guidlines based on modern "pc" thinking. Last thief that stuck his fingers in my toolbox and got caught by me, won't do it again. A result for society in general.

Stamp on the small crimes and bad behaviours

, you give your self a chance of an ordered society with a lesser rate of bigger crime....

**mashman** · 15th March 2013, 19:56

Maybe he is genuinely sorry for what he has done. He could have sold it. So I'm going to assume that he probably couldn't afford one and took his chances. Not a nice thing to do like... but it was only a phone.

**Virago** · 15th March 2013, 19:59

Originally Posted by yungatart

Not just tertiary institutions, the school I work in has introduced it this year as well.
It does my head in.
Bring back the cane...or give me a taser! PC BS

Yeah, I'm aware that this has been going on in schools for a while. Theft or violence will be dealt with by a semi-believable apology, which is then rewarded with lots of praise for "putting things right".

I'm also aware that the approach is often used in the tertiary sector when dealing with student hi-jinks, to keep the students out of court - but usually only for low-impact (victimless) crimes.

I'm appalled that the university is taking a "say sorry and shake hands" approach to this, and refusing to even acknowledge the victim. Theft as a servant is serious, especially for those in such a position of trust.

**Virago** · 15th March 2013, 20:03

Originally Posted by mashman

Maybe he is genuinely sorry for what he has done. He could have sold it. So I'm going to assume that he probably couldn't afford one and took his chances. Not a nice thing to do like... but it was only a phone.

Blah fucking blah.

He had seven months to be genuinely sorry, he was only "sorry" when he got caught.

**Smifffy** · 15th March 2013, 20:07

Originally Posted by mashman

Maybe he is genuinely sorry for what he has done. He could have sold it. So I'm going to assume that he probably couldn't afford one and took his chances. Not a nice thing to do like... but it was only a phone.

Or it was only an ipod, or only a laptop, or only a car or only a vagina...

I read this thread thinking that from the title it was going to be the one example of restorative justice that actually worked. Restorative justice is no justice at all. People need to know that they are aren't entitled to take whatever the fuck they want. Whether that be a phone or a vagina.

Restorative imo would be at least, replacement of the phone to the equivalent spec of the current model and payment of the charges relative to the plan the guy had for the next how ever many months. Fat Chance.

I'm not one to get into the whole debate about rehabilitation Vs retribution. The consequences should just be such that the offender respects others' rights in future.

**mashman** · 15th March 2013, 20:09

Originally Posted by Virago

Blah fucking blah.

He had seven months to be genuinely sorry, he was only "sorry" when he got caught.

And he thought he had gotten away with it. He hadn't. Somewhere along the lines someone has believed him and given him a second chance. T'would seem that some fuckers just don't believe in second chances. And over a phone of all things.

**bogan** · 15th March 2013, 20:11

Originally Posted by mashman

And he thought he had gotten away with it. He hadn't. Somewhere along the lines someone has believed him and given him a second chance. T'would seem that some fuckers just don't believe in second chances. And over a phone of all things.

T'would seem that most of us think the victim should be the one to decide if he gets a second chance or not. It shouldn't be the guy the perp might be giving the sly handy-j to after hours.

**300weatherby** · 15th March 2013, 20:12

Originally Posted by Smifffy

Or it was only an ipod, or only a laptop, or only a car or only a vagina...

I read this thread thinking that from the title it was going to be the one example of restorative justice that actually worked. Restorative justice is no justice at all. People need to know that they are aren't entitled to take whatever the fuck they want. Whether that be a phone or a vagina.

Restorative imo would be at least, replacement of the phone to the equivalent spec of the current model and payment of the charges relative to the plan the guy had for the next how ever many months. Fat Chance.

I'm not one to get into the whole debate about rehabilitation Vs retribution. The consequences should just be such that the offender respects others' rights in future.

You hit it right on the nail with one word........ CONSEQUENCES!!!!!