Focusing on Community: Diversity and RESTORE Chad Sniffen Melissa Sisco Mary Koss, Ph.D. Karen Bachar, M.A., M.P.H.

Why Conduct Focus Groups? RESTORE is Survivor driven. –How do Survivors have a voice in our development? –What concerns are common among Survivors? RESTORE heals both individuals and communities. –What communities do we represent? –What concerns do different communities have? RESTORE reintegrates the Responsible Person (RP) into their community. –What do we need to know about working with RPs? –What concerns are common among RPs?

Goals of the Focus Group Project To inform members of different communities about RESTORE. To hear the concerns that members of different communities have about RESTORE. To use feedback from different communities to help us develop the RESTORE process. To improve our ability to work with Survivors and Responsible Persons. To learn more effective ways of presenting RESTORE to all potential participants and different communities.

Recruitment Flyers, s, and telephone calls to specific communities: –African Americans –Asian Americans –Hispanics –Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender People –Survivors of Sexual Assault –University Students –Victim Advocates –Victim Treatment Providers 45 Participants –33 Women, 12 Men –5 African American –6 Asian American –8 Hispanic –24 White, Non-Hispanic –2 Multi-Ethnic or Did Not Identify –Estimated Household Income: 5 at $0 - $24k 12 at $25k - $49k 10 at $50k - $74k 3 at $75k - $99k 11 at $100k+

Method Single Session, 1.5 Hour Group –Introductions & Purpose –Consent Forms & Confidentiality –Overview of RESTORE (handout) –Participant Questions –Research Questions –Research Question Responses –Participant Questions Responses

Participants Initial Reactions “ You mean they do this instead of going to jail? ” “ What is the meaning of restorative justice… what do you restore? ” “ It would be easier for them to push someone to do this than to have them go through the regular process through the justice system. ” “ I spend a significant part of my time working with people who are charged in the traditional way with sex crimes and, once that happens in the state of Arizona, you ’ re pretty much done for life. So, there are restrictions on you, probably forever. So, how fortunate to have this program for these people. ”

“ Do you think that the traditional justice system deals effectively with sexual offenses? ” “ No, no, no, no, no. No. ” “ I think the justice system doesn ’ t listen to the victim and it doesn ’ t let women define what the harm is that ’ s being done to them. ” “ No, I don ’ t think there ’ s enough focus on offender rehabilitation. ” “ It does not, and it doesn ’ t because the resources aren ’ t there, they don ’ t start soon enough. There is no accountability all up and down the system. ” “ I see… some officers who are great and then some who, for reasons of their own, have their own filters as to how they interpret what is going on.

“ From what you ’ ve heard about RESTORE, do you think it might work for certain sexual offenses? ” “ …you ’ re kind of giving the Responsible Person, the perpetrator, the faith that they can [go] through it, and I think that ’ s just – it ’ s a leap of faith, really. ” “ …I think it can be far more effective than playing the criminal justice game. I also don ’ t think it ’ s perfect, but it ’ s moving in a direction that things need to go in and then be analyzed. ” “ If there ’ s a pattern of sexual assault, then I don ’ t know if definitely the community response would work as well but for 1st time yes… ” “ I really like the concept of community support that RESTORE is putting together, because it ’ s all about healing the community. ”

“ What would be the best way to describe this program to members of your community? What concerns might they have? ” “ We Hispanic women… we rely on friends for things that involve men, and involve sex, and, uh, things like this. ” “ I ’ m a member of a family where one of the members… was a victim of a sexual crime. You don ’ t talk about these things – never again. ” “ The entire justice system is suspect in the black community for a variety of reasons. The emphasis on true justice and restorative justice… would resonate more with the black community… the concept of restorative justice also has roots in African traditional law. ” “ I think that they would appreciate the fact that people are trying to do anything to, to change this. ”