ABSTRACT
Opening the Heart Within Systems (Following are excerpts from a transcribed interview with an anonymous director of a secure Department of Youth Services detention facility in Massachusetts.)
This story tells of an encounter, at a personal level, of the criminal justice system with one restorative justice process - the circle. The circle holds much symbolic weight for a number of reasons. In a circle there is no hierarchical structure, no sage on the stage, no beginning and no end. Circles are conducive to dialogue because their structure accommodates individual expression, one by one in turn, around and around until the issue is worked out or opposing groups understand each other better. Further, circles are grounded in core RJ values; these values are the terms by which the dialogue occurs. That is, the dialogue is governed by keepers who remind participants of the need to use respect, honesty, fairness and so on, in each one's expression of their own thoughts and needs. Circles help to build relationships and deepen understanding of each other's perspectives on issues that affect us all. They remind us of the important ideal of integrity: that we will endeavour to act on our values at all times, even when having difficult conversations, while at the same time understanding that as fallible humans we will also make mistakes along the way.
