Forgiveness and Justice Lesson 2 Margaret Foxleys journey

Forgiveness and Justice Lesson 2 Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice

Recap from previous lesson Click here for some possible answers… Who is involved in Restorative Justice? • the Victim/s, Offender, Community members, Prison staff Is Restorative Justice a new concept? • Maori communities in New Zealand, Aboriginal communities, as well as First Nation communities in Canada and the US in particular have used restorative practices such as healing circles within their traditional systems of justice for hundreds of years. What is the % of victims that are satisfied with the Restorative Justice process? • 85% What, in your opinion is the most important need of either a victim or offender during Restorative Justice? • the truth, empowerment, accountability, encouragement to experience personal transformation etc. Lesson 2 | Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 2

Ground rules when exploring personal stories 1. Do respect the fact that your opinion is personal to you and may be different to your classmates. 2. Do take part in open discussions and value this as a positive activity, however refrain from making personal remarks which are negative. 3. Do be patient and wait until another student has finished before offering your opinion, idea or question. Lesson 2 | Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 3

Margaret Foxley’s story Please click here to launch the video Alternatively copy this link into your browser: https: //vimeo. com/182110450 Lesson 2 | Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 4

Timeline of a journey towards forgiveness In pairs or small groups explore Margaret’s range of emotions by reading them to each other and discussing them. Place them into a timeline from just after the burglary taking place (1) to after her Restorative Justice meeting (13). Before the meeting I felt very angry, resentful and bitter. I visited prison, he sat opposite me and eventually he said “I just want to say sorry for what I have done. I am sorry for the harm I have caused”. They caught the person who had burgled the house. I felt relieved that he had been caught. It is so empowering to be able to say “This is what you did. This is how you made me feel. What are you going to do about it? ” I couldn’t stop thinking about the words of Jessica - about the fact that we didn’t know this person or what made him behave in this way. I suddenly felt that I had this inner strength and my voice became stronger and I asked him lots of questions. We started to talk then as two human beings. Who had the right to take something away from me, when I had lost everything? Lesson 2 | I received a phone call from the police inviting me to take part in a Restorative Justice case conference. I forgive him as a human being, as a person for making the huge effort to prove to me and his family that he can change his life and turn his life around. Jessica tried to make me understand that we didn’t know anything about the offender, what made him do it or the reasons why he was involved in this kind of behaviour. It was the most life changing experience. I was suddenly in a different place and I felt totally different. I was nervous about returning home in the evenings. I felt cross that the feeling of safety in my own home had been taken away from me. I now understand it’s not about giving the things back that were stolen. It’s about the offender listening and understanding the impact that they have had on somebody. Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 5

I used to think… But, now I think… • Take some time to chat in your pairs or small group about Margaret's story. • Think about your original ideas of Restorative Justice. Has your thinking changed, if so, how? • What impact has Margaret's story had on you and your thinking? Give reasons for your views. • Complete a few sentences in your student booklet to summarise your thinking: − I used to think… − But, now I think… Lesson 2 | Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 6

Suggested timeline sequence 1. I was nervous about returning home in the evenings. I felt cross that the feeling of safety in my own home had been taken away from me. 8. I visited prison, he sat opposite me and eventually he said “I just want to say sorry for what I have done. I am sorry for the harm I have caused”. 2. They caught the person who had burgled the house. I felt relieved that he had been caught. 9. I suddenly felt that I had this inner strength and my voice became stronger and I asked him lots of questions. We started to talk then as two human beings. 3. Jessica tried to make me understand that we didn’t know anything about the offender, what made him do it or the reasons why he was involved in this kind of behaviour. 10. It was the most life changing experience. I was suddenly in a different place and I felt totally different. 4. Who had the right to take something away from me, when I had lost everything? 5. I received a phone call from the police inviting me to take part in a Restorative Justice case conference. 6. I couldn’t stop thinking about the words of Jessica - about the fact that we didn’t know this person or what made him behave in this way. 7. Before the meeting I felt very angry, resentful and bitter. Lesson 2 | 11. I now understand it’s not about giving the things back that were stolen. It’s about the offender listening and understanding the impact that they have had on somebody. 12. It is so empowering to be able to say “This is what you did. This is how you made me feel. What are you going to do about it? ” 13. I forgive him as a human being, as a person for making the huge effort to prove to me and his family that he can change his life and turn his life around. Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 7

Next Lesson Ø In the next lesson we will be exploring how Restorative Justice differs to the criminal justice system. Ø We will hear Peter Woolf's story and find out how meeting one of his victims face to face changed his life forever. Lesson 2 | Margaret Foxley’s journey towards Restorative Justice | 8