“I can’t begin to tell you how much this has helped me. I feel all my anger and hate for the world has left me, I now see life as hopeful rather than ugly and bitter.”
“This experience has helped change my life. It helped me see that dealing with the past is very important. I felt important. That people actually cared about me. Wanted to help. I can’t thank you enough.”
“I strongly believe the program had and has a positive effect on my life…Without my participation, many questions would have still been unanswered.”
“I was very impressed with the process. What a blessing that something so awful could have something good come from it 16 years later.”
“RJP was a great experience. If anything, push more people to do this. They will never regret it. You went above and beyond to give my family peace to move on with all of our lives.”
Preparing for the meeting
“I cannot imagine them doing a more wonderful job. I appreciate that I was given the time I needed. I loved working with the program director and the student. Both were wonderful and I created an amazing bond with both! I could not imagine a better way to approach this sensitive subject. Thank you for all you do!”
“The student interns were very hands on and had very pointed and thought provoking questions which in turn led to a very rich meeting…I felt comfortable throughout the entire process and was put at ease when I was tense at times. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the Restorative Justice Program.”
“I think the law students on my case were very professional and friendly. The project director planned the sessions very well, and kept the tone straight as well as professional. It was easy to open up around the individuals I dealt with, it was a difficult journey, and they made it as comfortable as possible.”
“I don’t think they could have done any more to prepare me any better. I got every goal taken care of and it was a pleasure working with the student and project director.”
Meeting the offender
“For 15 years I’ve been making up what the offender might think or say and now I know the truth…and now I have a new understanding of the crime.”
“I had never heard the offender speak about the crime so I only had an imagined version of a very evil person who had no remorse. Face to face meeting allowed all of us to see each other as flawed humans, but humans with a story.”
“It was good to hear a direct apology. I also appreciated that the offender wanted photos of the victim to remember the impact. Also it helped to know that the offender didn’t plan to do it far in advance. He seemed reflective in terms of the impact the situation had on our family.”
“I believe that by having our conversation the offender has a more personal idea of who the victim was and how we as his family and friends have been impacted. Having this personal information, I believe the impact of the incident has become a fuller picture.”
