Community Peacemaking Circles for Social Workers Lee Copenhagen MSW Intern, Gallatin Community Youth Justice Center, Minnesota Department of Corrections with the National Institute of Corrections

What Are Community Peacemaking Circles? A Process for bringing people together as equals to talk about the offense Provides an atmosphere of respect & concern for everyone Face-to-face encounter to repair harm Led by trained Circle Keepers Participants decide Circle outcome

What are Circles? (cont.) Voluntary for victim Admission of responsibility by offender Incident-based, behavior-based Looks at underlying causes Focuses on empowering participants Comes to consensus agreement

Key Elements of Circles & Humanistic Mediation Continual Centering of the mediator: being fully present- separating “our stuff” from “their stuff” Deep compassionate listening Importance of storytelling: “just listen” Pre-mediation in-person separate meetings Connecting with parties, but impartial

Circles & Humanistic Mediation (cont.) Creation of safe, if not sacred, space Dialog driven- between parties Non-directive style of mediation Mediator “gets out of the way” Victim continually given choices

Typical Stages of the Peacekeeping Circle Process Acceptance - community & affected parties determine if circle is appropriate Preparation -separate circles for various interests are held Gathering - All parties brought together Follow-up - Regular communication and check-ins

The Talking Piece Special meaning of the piece General Guidelines Honor the purpose of the circle Advantages

Peacemaking Circle Approach to Offenses: Questions asked: Who has been hurt by this event? What are their needs? Whose obligations are these? Who has a stake in this situation? What efforts are needed to put things right?

Basic Keeper Communication Skills Eliminate distractions Demonstrate active listening Suspend judgement Be empathetic Try not to assume

Roles of the Keepers  Create an atmosphere of respect and safety for all  Create a tone of hope and optimism for constructive solutions  Guide the process to remain true to underlying values  Articulate the progress and accomplishments of the circle as it proceeds  Clarify unresolved issues to focus the circle’s energy  Participate as a community member

More thoughts of the Roles of the Keepers  Be compassionate, sincere, respectful  Listen!  Let people vent their emotions  Stay neutral (“equally partial”), while disapproving of harm done  Be a facilitator, not judge or negotiator  Do not be directive

Cases of Severe Violence Takes more intense training and preparation  Specialized expertise related to working with victims who have been severely traumatized  Special considerations for dealing with offenders in incarceration  Slower moving process, dealing with grief and healing