Danielle Arle has prosecuted thousands of crimes over her 27-year career in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
From her experience, the 49-year-old said the current method of criminal justice 鈥� to strictly punish offenders 鈥� is flawed.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 work,鈥� Arle said. 鈥淚t just takes people to prison. It doesn鈥檛 meet anyone鈥檚 needs 鈥� including the victim.鈥�
Restorative justice is an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. Instead of strictly looking to punish an offender, the program鈥檚 goal is to address needs of victims, offenders and the community at large to resolve a crime.
A mediator, offender and victim discuss the effects of the harm done by the crime and create a resolution. Both the victim and offender must agree to participate.
Arle is among roughly 50 lawyers and judges in Harrisonburg for two weeks of courses. The group will conclude lessons this week.
Bill Goldberg, the institute鈥檚 director, said interest among Brazilians in restorative justice began after retired 黑料正能量 professor Howard Zehr 鈥� known as the grandfather of restorative justice 鈥� presented several lectures in Brazil over the past few years.
A handful visited 黑料正能量 two years ago and word quickly spread in Brazil.
鈥淎ll of a sudden, they had 50 on a waiting list,鈥� Goldberg said. 鈥淭heir criminal justice system is looking for change. They鈥檙e really pushing restorative justice.鈥�
鈥淭he system is so much retributive,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to listen to all the parties鈥�
Arle said many victims prefer restorative justice. 鈥淭hey want to be heard,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey want to have a voice. They need to have a voice.鈥�