A better way for everyone

Earlier in the year, I participated in a trip, which included judges, state representatives, and policy folks, to Northern Ireland. We were there at the invitation of Juvenile Justice Initiative, an organization that advocates for more humane treatment of juveniles in the legal system. 

We experienced a lot in those few days. We learned how Northern Ireland handles children who are in conflict with the law and the ways in which they hold children accountable. Northern Ireland is about the size of Connecticut with a population (1.93M) just shy of the city of Chicago. In all of Northern Ireland, they have four children detained. Illinois has thousands. Approximately 200 youth are detained in Chicago’s juvenile detention centers alone. So, what’s the difference? 

Obviously, there are differences between Northern Ireland and the United States. One is the number of guns. United States has more guns per capita than any other country. But even taking out that variable, the difference is stark. A large part of the reason is that Northern Ireland has a “Child First” principle in their legislation. They never use the words “youth” or “juvenile.” They intentionally emphasize the fact that they are children, not mini adults. In addition, while the United States punishes those who violate the law with little attention to rehabilitation programs, Northern Ireland works to ensure that resources are available at the very outset of any violation or criminal activity.   

I have been visiting Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center for over 45 years. Even with all the research and understanding about child development and trauma, we still hold on to a system of punishment. Children are still isolated, punished, and “warehoused” with very little attention given toward healing and reintegration back into their community. 

Restorative Justice has been a cornerstone of PBMR. It helps live out our spirituality of the Precious Blood — a spirituality of reconciliation.  Restorative Justice is a philosophy, not a strategy. It is a lens by which we see and encounter one another. When there is a conflict or harm done, it asks, “What happened? Who was harmed? And what can be done to repair the harm?”  The formal justice system asks, “What law was broken?  Who broke it?  What’s the punishment?” Little or no attention is given to healing or reconciliation. Both the one harmed and the wrongdoer sit on the sidelines while the system determines the punishment. 

PBMR is a place where individuals who have caused harm and been harmed find safety, care, and love. In developing stronger relationships with one another, we begin to see the “other” differently. Often, the wrongdoer is recognized as someone who carries their own scars. They are more than that one act. And a healing journey becomes possible. As Fania Davis says, “Justice becomes a healing ground, not a battleground.” 

Fr. David Kelly, C.PP.S. 
Read more on PBMR’s New Creation Blog: PBMR.org/a-better-way-for-everyone