Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office Announces New Restorative Justice Program

By Stone Andrews On Sep 9, 2021

ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw District Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday that a survivor-led restorative justice program was in place.

Developed in collaboration with the Dispute Resolution Center, the program allows crime survivors to choose whether to move forward in the criminal justice system or opt for restorative justice instead.

“If and only if survivors choose restorative justice, the survivor and the person who caused harm work with a trained mediator to find an individual solution on how the survivor can be cured,” a statement said of the district.

The following are the three elements of restorative justice, according to a press release:

The person who caused damage must acknowledge the damage and take responsibility.
The person who has caused harm and the person harmed must work together voluntarily and agree to a plan in which redress can be made.
The person who caused the damage and any affected parties who so wish must work together to determine the root causes of the damage and develop a plan to ensure that the damage does not recur.

Crime survivors will now have the opportunity to participate in the program from a prosecutor’s victim attorney before charges are approved. If the survivor leaves the program, the case will be prosecuted under the traditional system.

If you choose restorative justice, the charges will be “put on hold” without filing and a redress plan will begin developing.

“Too often in the criminal justice system we marginalize crime survivors – leaving them no choice as to how their case proceeds,” Washtenaw County Attorney Eli Savit said in a statement. “The Restorative Justice Program announced today changes that.

“Survivors are given the opportunity to choose their own course and are empowered to achieve an outcome that is convenient for them. We stand with survivors in the public prosecutor’s office. And standing with the survivors means listening to them. “

Prosecutors will not approve the underlying charges if the survivor and the person who caused the damage find a solution, pursue their redress plan, and the would-be accused has not been charged with new crimes for 18 months.

If the restorative justice trial fails or a new crime is brought against the would-be defendant, the prosecution may decide to bring the original indictment.

According to a county press release, communities across the country have found that crime survivors tend to prefer restorative justice to the traditional system. It cited New York City’s robust program, with 90% of survivors choosing to participate in restorative justice.

“This is an opportunity to center crime survivors, give them a voice in their own healing, and promote real rehabilitation for those who do harm,” Assistant Attorney Burton-Harris said in a statement. “If we continue to simply punish without healing and restoration, we will continue to see the same harm in our communities.

“Prosecutors are bringing charges against a person on behalf of the state, not on behalf of the person who has been harmed. All too often, the traditional legal system hides or ignores what someone needs after being injured. Most often, crime survivors want answers: ‘Why did you harm me?’ ‘Why did you choose me?’ ‘What happened to you that made you act like that?’ ‘What do you need to never do that again?’ Restorative Justice answers these questions and brings true healing to both survivors and those who have harmed them. “

The administration of the Washtenaw County program is overseen by Burton-Harris along with Victim / Witness Director Brenda Quiet, First Assistant Attorney Christina Hines, and Victim Attorney Rachelle Wilson, who all played central roles in creating the program.

“The Democratic Republic of the Congo has long waited for an opportunity to work with crime survivors and those seeking reparation,” Dispute Resolution Center executive director Belinda Dulin said in a statement. “We believe that people who are empowered to do the right thing will do so.

“We believe that if people have the opportunity to solve problems, then so can they. We look forward to working with more community members and not only looking for results, but also healing the damage. “

The Dispute Resolution Center is a not-for-profit organization providing restorative conflict resolution techniques to residents of Washtenaw and Livingston Counties. It has partnered with the Washtenaw County’s judicial system for more than two decades to facilitate alternative dispute resolution and mediation services.

Not all offenses are eligible for the program, such as: B. Gun violence and other crimes that could threaten public security. Cases of sexual assault, child victimization, intimate partner violence, and cases where the person who caused the harm held a position of authority over the survivor are not eligible for the program.

To read the prosecutor’s full Restorative Justice Policy, click here.