ABC7 News I-Team takes their time to look at 2 great Bay Area restorative justice programs regarding how they work, as well as how they are founded. While also providing direct quotes from participants and managers within these programs.
The article focuses on the two programs in the Bay community that are working stopping recidivism which is the concept of preventing a person’s relapse on a criminal behaviour. The first program is the Oakland’s Community Works Restorative Reentry Fund which is privately funded, meaning not taxpayer funded. It is a program that has helped various people by providing $1,000 monthly guaranteed. A recipient even has said “It’s been helping me to have a productive life out here and not have to go back and be like oh I need to commit a crime in order to be able to sustain” which I think is what RJ is about. The manager whom we met Rahkii Holman speaks about that the reason he continues the program is because the care he has for humanity and I think everyone of us felt his reasoning the day he came to visit and I am glad it is getting the media attention it deserves as I think allowing people to have a chance without “strings attached” is not something that people tend to think about. This fund allows them to step farther from darkness and work on their bright future.
While, on the other hand the second program is in its 13th year and that is the Peacemaker Fellowship program directed towards active firearm offenders who haven’t been prosecuted. The program is a little different from the one above as it is more about “earning” an allowance while doing certain milestones where the amount can be up to $1,000 a month. However, it has had quite a backlash as it has not had the best results in preventing crime but just reducing it slightly. But, I think it is important to see that even though it hasn’t reached its full potential it is still an opportunity for people to get a second chance in life. Since, redistributive justice only focuses on keeping people away without looking in how to help those and the community that has led certain actions to occur.