SACRAMENTO— California officials are experimenting with a new diversion program for criminals that includes allowing victims to directly confront their offenders.
The budget that took effect July 1 includes $5 million to fund the program for five years in a county with a history of high crime, although it has been tried elsewhere and is more frequently used with juvenile offenders.
The California program is for offenders of any age. It will pair victims and offenders before they are convicted, and offenders who complete the program can avoid having a criminal record.
Proponents said Monday that what are known as restorative justice programs can help survivors heal, while helping offenders avoid committing new crimes in part because they don’t face the stigma of a criminal conviction.
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Those charged with murder and sex crimes are not eligible.
Seems to me that sex crimes would be ideal for this program. Why exempt them?
The precious gift of ratified right to open public jury trials ( no reps ). Precisely why the founders thought the process MUST BE ADHERED to. It services crucial purposes for the complainant and the people themselves. While plea bargains are expeditious, the efficiency costs have a causal counter productivity in citizens satisfaction. This the human need for such programs couched here. Like sex offender treatment it is a reactionary measure and while therefore useful, is symptomatic of a deeper systematic legal structure flaw.
Well, of course, it goes without saying:. “Those charged with murder and sex crimes are not eligible.”.
Domestic violence perpetrators…,
hit and run drunk drivers…..
Identity thieves…. all of them are just fine to participate in this program but God forbid you find someone charged with a CP crime participate!? Just imagine what might happen …… nothing! Or, far worse, what if the criimr victims actually ended up having some sympathy for the perpetrator and ended up feeling that the our legal/justice system’s punishment was egregiously excessive! God forbid they end up making more advocates for our side of this issue!
“Hey! The colored drinking fountain is over THERE!”
🤔 Hmmm….. If a murderer apologized to his victim, wouldn’t that apology fall on deaf ears? It could be a grave mistake. Gallows humor. 🙄