Touching Spirit Bear---mini report

Circle Justice is justice that seeks healing in a way contrary to the regular punishmental ways. It is made up of all the individuals, organizations, and institutions who make up the community and that are willing to heal and help those wrongfully convicted, and those convicted who are seeking peace. Its goals include making the community safer,satisfying victims' needs and giving offenders skills to escape the cycle of crime and punishment. They work in various ways, finding more appropriate ways to help heal instead of punishing. It helps re-evaluate the relationship between the victim and the offender so that each one can forgive the other, and themselves. The steps of circle justice consist of five 1. Offender pleads guilty in court and agrees to accept sentenceimposed by circle of community members. Offender applies to a communityjustice committee. 2. If accepted, the offender and committee work out a "social compact'' listing things the offender will begin doing immediately toshow his or her sincerity. 3. A trained facilitator meets with victim, offender and others toexplain the circle process. The facilitator may arrange smaller``healing circles'' for victims and offenders as a start. 4. The facilitator convenes a larger sentencing circle that includesinterested community members and people from the court system. Afterone or more meetings, the circle reaches a consensus on the sentence,which can include some of the steps the offender has already taken. Ifanyone in the circle can't agree, a judge decides the sentence. 5. The offender regularly returns to the circle to discuss his orher progress. Circle members, especially his supporters, help him gettraining, counseling or other assistance needed to fulfill his sentenceand become a productive person. If the circle becomes convinced thatthe offender won't complete the sentence, he or she is sent back to court" (Fred Olson University Of Anchorage Alaska)
Cole goes through circle justice. At first he thinks its a joke, and eventually he realizes that this might be his only chance at change. Circle justice is a meeting set in a circle, with several different steps. The idea of a circle, is it has no beginning and it has no ending. I think this will signify that Cole can restart his life at any moment, just as easy that at any moment, it could end. The circle signifies his life, and how it will change over the course of this book.


works cited

Olson, Fred H. "Article About Circle of Justice." 4 June 1999. Twin Cities Frenet. 24 June 2008 http://freenet.msp.mn.us/~fholson/circles-mn/circ-stb.htm.

"Circle Justice." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 24 June 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_Justice.

"Circle Justice." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 24 June 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_Justice.