All webinar recordings can be found on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRHodhvelaMQE4cvXBPQCZg
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-honoring-all-victims-restorative-justice-for-sexual-harm/
The theme of this webinar is Honoring All Victims. What does this mean? We asked a colleague who identifies as a survivor of sexual violence. Here’s what she shared:
It means recognizing that many victims were failed by a society that falls short on keeping people safe. It means doing something about it. It means understanding why our justice and legal systems miss the mark on sexual crimes. We support and honor victims when we educate communities about failed policies that do not keep them safe. We honor victims when we show them ways to overcome their trauma instead of carrying it around with vengeance for years to come. We honor victims when we work with legislators to improve policies and enact laws that will do a better job of keeping communities safe. We even honor victims when we support the rehabilitation and successful reentry of those who have caused harm.
In this webinar we will hear three different stories of lived experience. As John Braithwaite (Professor at the Australian National University) is fond of saying, if crime hurts, justice requires the mending or healing of these visceral injuries, otherwise it remains partial at best and re-victimizing at worst. Healing is something the punitive justice system largely fails to deliver, because punishment does little or nothing to heal, either the offender or the victim.
While restorative justice may not yet be “mainstream” it should be. People who have been harmed deserve to be given choices. Restorative justice is a worthy alternative to the punitive system. Let’s learn more from our panel.
Panelists
Dr. Alissa R. Ackerman
Ampersands Restorative Justice
(Read bio here)
Gretchen Casey
The Amend Initiative
(Read bio here)
Philip Kaso
NARSOL Director
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Cindy Prizio
Executive Director, One Standard of Justice
Co-Sponsor
Sen. Gary Winfield
Senate Chair Judiciary Committee
(Read bio here)
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-men-who-access-csem-what-you-should-know-about-risk/
As access to the Internet has grown, there has been a substantial increase in the number of individuals coming to the attention of the criminal justice system for accessing child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). This presentation will integrate research and clinical knowledge to separate myth from fact. For example, are all people who access CSEM the same? Do they all have sexual interest in children? Will they go on to commit contact offenses against children? How much treatment do they need? What does prevention look like? Should they be treated similarly to men who have committed offline sexual offenses? Subsequent to separating myths from fact the presenters will discuss supervision and policy implications.
Slides
Panelists
L. Maaike Helmus, Ph.D.
(Read bio here)
Dr. Anton Schweighofer
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
Co-Sponsor
Sen. Gary Winfield
Senate Chair Judiciary Committee
(Read bio here)
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-1st-anniversary-of-a-different-approach-to-sex-crimes/
In this anniversary webinar focused on restorative justice for sexual harm, we are joined by Moe Miller, Kevin Lynch, and returning guests, State Senator Gary Winfield and Dr. Alissa Ackerman. In this conversation, Moe and Kevin will discuss how they have both come to the work on restorative justice from their differing social and experiential locations. In the second half of the webinar, Senator Gary Winfield and Dr. Alissa Ackerman will join the conversation to broaden the discussion.
Panelists
Prof. Monishia "Moe" Miller, M.S.
(Read bio here)
Kevin Lynch
(Read bio here)
Moderator / Panelist
Alissa Ackerman, Ph.D.
(Read bio here)
Panelist / Co-Sponsor
Sen. Gary Winfield
Senate Chair Judiciary Committee
(Read bio here)
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-public-safety-for-sexual-harm-correcting-the-narrative/
- What is public safety?
- How do we create sustainable, safe communities when the dollars spent primarily go to post-conviction punishments rather than on prevention of sexual violence?
- Early intervention and access to treatment without threat of prosecution.
- What are the needs of people who have been harmed, as well as those who have harmed? Trauma-informed care must be available for everyone.
- And more...
Presenter / Panelist
R. Karl Hanson, Ph.D.
Preeminent Researcher in Risk Assessment
(Read bio here)
Panelist / Co-Sponsor
Sen. Gary Winfield
Senate Chair Judiciary Committee
(Read bio here)
Panelist
Alissa Ackerman, Ph.D.
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-a-different-approach-to-sex-crimes/
We need to have a different conversation about sexual violence and healing. This presentation will do that, going places some have never gone before. We make progress when we have difficult conversations. When it comes to sexual violence, it is important to address misconceptions that lead to stigmatization and negative stereotyping of those who commit the harm and those who are harmed.
Panelists
Alissa Ackerman, Ph.D.
(Read bio here)
Lara Bazelon
(Read bio here)
Seema Gajwani
(Read bio here)
Nuri Nusrat
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/deciding-to-reduce-child-sexual-abuse-through-understanding/
Stop It Now! is preparing to celebrate 30 years of reaching out to adults who sexually abuse children and who are at risk of abusing. Stop It Now! knows what too many others don’t: that many people at risk to abuse want help and that preventing abuse requires forming connections to those who might harm. It involves offering them help, support, and resources to live healthy, safe, and constructive lives. All the evidence shows that everyone is safer when these individuals have what they need to prevent harm. This webinar will describe Stop It Now!’s model of prevention. It will share some of their resources and discuss how we all can better foster individual accountability and responsibility so that children can grow up free of sexual harm.
Speaker
Jenny Coleman, LMHC
Director of Stop It Now (StopItNow.org)
(Read bio here)
Moderator
David S. Prescott, LCSW, LICSW
(Read bio here)
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-restorative-justice-program-for-youth-and-adults/
Seema Gajwani will speak about the use of Restorative Justice in Washington DC to address serious, violent crime and bring about better outcomes for victims of crime and those who commit crime. Ms. Gajwani founded and runs the Restorative Justice Program housed within the Washington DC’s Office of the Attorney General. The program offers restorative justice as an alternative to traditional prosecution for victims of serious violent crime committed by juveniles in DC. The Program has had success at resolving cases in lieu of traditional prosecution and is expanding to adult crime and cases in a post adjudication status in the coming year. Ms. Gajwani will describe the details of restorative justice and how its use has been effective with serious crime in Washington, DC.
Speaker
Seema Gajwani
Special Council for Juvenile Justice Reform
Chief, Restorative Justice Section, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
(Read bio here)
Articles
The Hard Truths of Progressive Prosecution and a Path to Realizing the Movement's Promise (January 2020 - Restorative Justice: Changing the Lens)
(Read here)
Videos
Bonus Q&A - Seema Gajwani answers questions that were not addressed from the webinar
Produced by Friends of Restorative Justice - Washtenaw County, MI
Produced by MettaCenter and also available through NACRJ.
Produced by Brave New Films (BNF) and narrated by Danielle Sered
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-what-do-we-know/
In the 1980s, it was assumed that adolescents who sexually abuse were destined to a lifetime of causing havoc. In the 1990s, this perception was worsened by beliefs that there was a rising tide of “super-predators.” Now, years of scientific study have revealed a very different reality: Most adolescents who abuse are not known to re-offend, even after years of opportunity. What are the implications of this? What should we conclude? And what is the best way forward now that we know what we do? This webinar will review where we’ve been and what we can – and should – do better when adolescents harm others sexually.
Speaker
David S. Prescott, LCSW, LICSW
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Dr. Sharon Denniston
(Read bio here)
Co-Sponsor
Senator Gary Winfield
(Read bio here)
References
Dr. Sharon Denniston ATSA article:
http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/atsa/issues/2016-03-22/4.html
David Prescott ATSA article:
https://blog.atsa.com/2021/04/where-do-we-go-from-here.html
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-politics-science-and-public-safety-is-there-common-ground/
A conversation between a progressive legislator from Connecticut and a world-renowned researcher.
The conversation between Dr. Hanson and Senator Winfield promises to be entertaining, insightful and eye opening. When common sense and data collide what wins out? When politics decide to ignore the science and pass laws with severe collateral consequences who gets harmed?
Speakers
R. Karl Hanson, Ph.D.
Preeminent Researcher in Risk Assessment
(Read bio here)
Sen. Gary Winfield
Senate Chair Judiciary Committee
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
Other Videos
More can be found in David Feige's documentary Untouchable available on Amazon Prime.
References
The American Law Institute: Prestigious American Law Institute recommends sweeping changes to registry, including no public dissemination
By Dr. Ira Ellman
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/webinar-a-personal-journey-to-find-meaningful-justice-for-sexual-harm/
Marlee identified as the receiver of harm from sexual violence. She chose restorative justice after finding the criminal legal system wanting. The criminal legal system asks what law has been broken, who broke it and what is the punishment. RJ asks what harm was done, who was harmed and how do we repair it. Let’s find out how Marlee thinks about healing, forgiveness, trauma, shame, stigma, and wellness.
Speaker
Marlee Liss ( www.MarleeLiss.com )
Restorative Justice Advocate
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
Co-Sponsor
Senator Gary Winfield
(Read bio here)
What I didn't know about RJ two years ago is that it is victim-centered.
- Dr. Danielle Cooper, University of New Haven
I wanted to humanize myself to my assailant. I wanted to humanize my assailant to me.
The same way survivors need healing, perpetrators need accountability [and incarceration is not accountability]. (Paraphrased from Danielle Sered's Until We Reckon)
My life is way too precious to think of myself as damaged.
- Marlee Liss
Restorative justice is a rigorous process.
Other Videos
References
Crime Survivors Speak
This is the first-ever national survey of victims views on crime and safety. Attached, is a two page executive summary and key findings.
Two of the most interesting outcomes of the study were: (1) By a 2 to 1 margin, victims prefer that the criminal justice system focus more on rehabilitating people who commit crimes than punishing them. (2) Crime victims want to invest in youth crime prevention over prisons by a 7 to 1 margin.
Executive Summary
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Crime-Survivors-Speak-Executive-Summary-and-Key-Findings.pdf
Full Report
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Crime-Survivors-Speak-Full-Report.pdf
A different path for confronting sexual assault
What is restorative justice? A practitioner explains how it works.
https://impactjustice.org/a-different-path-for-confronting-sexual-assault/t
Forgiveness Helps Heal, Yes; But Even After Murder?
Health News Florida by Carol Gentry
https://health.wusf.usf.edu/health-news-florida/2013-01-07/forgiveness-helps-heal-yes-but-even-after-murder
Sex Offender Laws: Failed Politics, New Directions
By Richard G. Wright
Chapter 16: The Impact of Sex Offender Policies on Victims
By Rachel Kane Bandy
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Bandy-2009-Impact-of-SO-Policies-on-Victims.pdf
There's A Better Way To Get Justice For Sexual Assault Survivors
By Alanna Vagianos
"The criminal justice system is a pipeline, and it has leaks all along the way,” Dr. Mary Koss told HuffPost.
Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair
By Danielle Sered
https://thenewpress.com/books/until-we-reckon
Cosby decision proves that legal system can’t deliver justice to sexual assault survivors | Opinion
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/experience-from-practicing-restorative-justice-for-sexual-harm/
Presenters cover different aspects of sexual misconduct, including the impact of sexual assault, the needs of the person harmed, the design and results of using restorative justice resolution in prosecutor-referred cases of felony and misdemeanor sexual assault, and pertinent legal considerations. This presentation is directly relevant to legislators, the legal community, advocates for both people who were harmed and people who did the harm, professionals in sexual assault coalitions, schools, universities, forensic examiners and other healthcare professionals, and community partners. Less adversarial approaches as a response to sexual misconduct can enhance equity among parties and offer constructive community-based resolution.
"What we think we know about recidivism we probably don’t know… Many of the people are speaking without real facts."
- Senator Winfield
Speakers
Mary Koss, Ph.D.
(Read bio here)
Kate Chisholm, M.P.H., M.A.
(Read bio here)
Quince Hopkins, JD, LL.M, S.J.D.
(Read bio here)
Dr. Elise Lopez
(Read bio here)
Laura Sinko, Ph.D., R.N., CCTS-I
(Read bio here)
All people are different.
The restore program was successful in bringing survivor victims resolution… and as reflected in the t-shirt’s message is forward thinking: survivor victims do move on. The band-aid is symbolic of a small scar being left behind.
Slides
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Experience-from-Practicing-Restorative-Justice-for-Sexual-Harm.pdf
References
Mary Koss
Koss (2014) The RESTORE Program of Restorative Justice for Sex Crimes: Vision, Process, and Outcomes
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Koss-2014-The-RESTORE-Program.pdf
There's a Better Way to Get Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors
by Allana Vagianos
The criminal justice system is a pipeline, and it has leaks all along the way
- Dr. Mary Koss
How 'Emancipatory Sex-Ed' Can Help Prevent Rape
By Sarah Treleaven
It doesn't fix the underlying problem of rape culture, but a made-in-Canada program is getting good results when it comes to reducing gender-based violence.
https://www.macleans.ca/education/how-emancipatory-sex-ed-can-help-prevent-rape/
Elise Lopez
The Gender Policy Report: Restorative Justice for Sexual Misconduct: Not if but When
https://genderpolicyreport.umn.edu/restorative-justice-for-sexual-misconduct-not-if-but-when/
Interested in RJ for campus sexual misconduct? Join our Campus PRISM Community of Practice:
https://www.sandiego.edu/soles/restorative-justice/campus-prism.php
C. Quince Hopkins
C. Quince Hopkins, JD, LLM, JSD "The Devil is in the Details: Constitutional and Other Legal Challenges Facing Restorative Justice Responses to Sexual Assault Cases," 50 (3) CRIMINAL LAW BULLETIN 1 (2014)
For anyone interested in our work in the Levitas Initiative at the University of Maryland School of Law and the School of Social Work, see:
https://www.law.umaryland.edu/
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/evidence-based-reform-finding-new-ways-forward/
Katherine Gotch discusses the recent research and recommendations of ATSA for evidence-based reform of the registry as well as reforms taking place nationally.
Speaker
Katherine Gotch, LPC, CCSOT
Director of Integrated Clinical & Correctional Services
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
References
2020 ATSA Registration Reform Youth Summary
https://onestandardofjustice.org/2020-ATSA-Reg-Reform-Youth-Summary.pdf
2020 ATSA Registration Reform Adult Summary
https://onestandardofjustice.org/2020-ATSA-Reg-Reform-Adult-Summary.pdf
View page for this webinar here: https://onestandardofjustice.org/sex-offense-recidivism-risk-not-what-you-think/
Dr. Hanson speaks about recidivism data and desistance.
Presentation Slides: R. Karl Hanson - Sex Offense Recidivism Risk - Not What You Think.pdf
Speaker
R. Karl Hanson, Ph.D.
Preeminent Researcher in Risk Assessment
(Read bio here)
Moderator
Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP
(Read bio here)
References
Hanson et al (2018) Not always a sex offender
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Hanson-et-al-2018-Not-always-a-sex-offender.pdf
Hanson (2018) CJB Desistance
https://onestandardofjustice.org/Hanson-2018-CJB-Desistance.pdf