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BisonRidge Ranch Hosts Restorative Justice Four Day Facilitator Training by Christine Calnin Visitors from Adams, Columbia, Sauk and Marquette Counties to Minnesota gathered at BisonRidge Ranch in Packwaukee in mid-April to learn more about the Restorative Justice process and how to implement it in local communities and schools, including those in Marquette County. The workshop was a labor of love for many including Robert and Judy Kohel, founders of the Eagle’s Nest Center, Inc non-profit of Westfield. The Eagle’s Nest Center exists to provide help to young people struggling with today's life issues. The Kohels have worked for over three years to bring awareness of the Restorative Justice process to the area and were instrumental in bringing together a number of diverse people such as teachers, counselors, mentors, community leaders and representatives of organizations such as Hope House. Marquette County Judge Richard Wright and District Attorney Richard DuFour have agreed to pilot the restorative process with certain court cases as an alternative to traditional court proceedings. The facilitator and key note speaker, Harold Gatensby, was born and raised in Carcross, Yukon Territory of Canada. Gatensby, a Tlingit First Nations Circle practitioner has dedicated his life to creating a better world. He has worked for twenty years with family, education, community, and justice systems across North America as a facilitator of the peacemaking process. Gatensby was also awarded the prestigious Justice Award by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in London, England. Restorative Justice Programs, also referred to as The Circle Process, has been so successful in Gatensby’s in Carcross Yukon Territory that there has not been a juvenile offender in over three years. By definition, restorative justice is a philosophical approach to responding to crime aimed at repairing the harm caused by a criminal act and restoring the balance in the community affected by the crime. It is a theory of criminal justice that focuses on crime not as an act against the state, but rather as an act against another individual or the community as a whole. The victim’s participation is key in the process and receives some type of restitution from the offender. Although Restorative justice adopts many different forms, all systems adhere to a common thread. Victims have a chance to express the full effect of the crime upon their lives, to receive answers to questions about the incident, and to play a key role in holding the offender accountable for his or her actions. In exchange, offenders are given the opportunity to present their side of why the crime was committed and how it may have affected them. They are given an opportunity to make retribution/restitution to the victim in a manner that suits them both. A good example of this could be a teenage boy, Mark, who takes his girlfriend, Mary on a joy ride in a stolen car. The car is owned by a man who has spent hard earned money and many years restoring it by hand. Mark crashes into a tree ruining the car and injuring Mary in the process. With restorative justice, Mark is told how others have been affected by his actions; Mary’s family, their fear for the injured girl, Mary’s fear and what she has gone through, her lengthy recuperation and outstanding medical bills. The owner of the car expresses his sadness and anger as years of hard work and money have been for nothing as the car sits nearly demolished. Through the Restorative Justice program, the parties involved come to an arrangement. Mark will take an afternoon job to help pay for Mary’s medical bills and better understand the emotional and physical trauma he has put her through. On weekends, Mark will spend time helping the owner of the car to repair and restore the car to its condition before the incident. Without Restorative Justice, Mark would probably pay a fine and could be remanded to a juvenile detention hall where he may come away with nothing learned or, worse yet, continue with actions that could contribute to a life long pattern of destructive behavior. While restorative justice may be considered a new concept on local levels, restorative approaches to crime date back thousands of years. The Sumerian 'Code of Ur-Nammu' in 2060 B.C. required restitution for violent offenses, Babylon 1700 B.C. for property offenses, Rome 449 B.C. and so on. Tribal laws in Germany instilled by King Clovis I (496 A.D.) called for restoration sanctions for both violent and nonviolent offenses. In the 20th century, restorative justice programs began to gain popularity in communities in the United States, Great Britain and New Zealand and while some programs for adult offenders showed promising results, the majority of restorative justice programs focus on juveniles. Workshop participant, Principal Susan Porfilio is working to implement the Circle Process in the Pioneer Westfield Middle School where she has been Principal for five years. “When a student does something wrong,” says Porfilio, a twenty-two year veteran of teaching, “Suspension or expulsion are simply a quick fix when what the student truly needs is to be in school. These traditional methods of punishment give immediate consequence but do not solve the problem or change the behavior of the student. The Circle Process is a wonderful way to provide kids with tools for a successful and happy life.” Principal Porfilio was joined by two counselors Dave Peppler and John Bradley and two teachers at the 7th and 8th grade levels Quinn Shirley and Brenda Dahlke as well as Pioneer SAFE School Team’s Kevin O’Hara. It is their hope that they can bring their knowledge and experience back to the school board so that the Circle Process can be put into practice at Pioneer Westfield Schools. All involved agree; the training was exceptional. The atmosphere was kind, caring, yet powerful and often times very emotional. “This is all about the peace making process which is vital to every group, organization and situation,” says Tayanne Kliner of Baraboo whose goal is to “facilitate a space for hope restoration”. “All of creation is working to improve the quality of life of the next generation, but as human beings, we’ve forgotten our place in that wonderful cycle!” exclaims workshop facilitator and peacemaker Harold Gatensby. Gatensby, along with Principal Porfilio and the other dedicated workshop attendees hope to implement the Circle Process to “reconnect to one another, our families and communities, and participate in the destiny of our nation”. Eagle's Nest Center would like to acknowledge their gratitude the following for their contributions of food, scholarships and money that helped to make this training a success: Healthy Communities- Healthy Youth, Marquette County; Montello Rotary, Pioneer Westfield Middle School, BisonRidge Ranch, Grand Marsh State Bank, Royal Bank of Oxford, 1st National Bank of Montello, Sue Allen, Rueben Hunter, Susan Johnson, Ann Perkins, Attorney Charles Church, Joel Burbach, Bill Lind of Holliday Subway, Montello and Westfield Super Value. For more information on how to get involved in bringing the Circle Process to our community, contact Bob and Judy Kohel of the Eagle’s Nest Center at (608) 296-4023. For more information on BisonRidge Ranch, call Georgia at (608) 589-5500.

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BisonRidge Ranch  -  W5707 Highway D   -   Montello, WI  53949  -  (608) 589-5500