The Restorative Justice Program (RJP) is made possible by a law enforcement grant awarded to the Corning Police Department. The program has the goal of intervening in the lives of 100 at risk youth and their families in the greater Corning area. It is our desire to intervene particularly in the lives of youth that indicate a propensity for criminal behavior and have acted out in the community by committing a crime or other offensive act.

The term "restorative justice" is a relatively new phrase in the criminal justice system. It carries the primary connotation of restoring the damage that has resulted from an offense.

Restorative Justice looks to meet the needs of the three parties most affected by crime:

• the victim
• the offender
• the community

The strategy of the program is to intercept at risk youth at the earliest possible stage in the delinquency process before a "pattern" of violence and antisocial behavior is established, and to deliver a swift community response to their inappropriate behavior. However, the goal of the program is not merely to punish the offender but to

1. teach them to become responsible for their actions;
2. to repair the damage they have caused by making amends, restitution, and apologies to their victim(s),
3. to receive education, counseling, and life skills training to divert them from the juvenile justice system.

In this innovative Restorative Justice Program the victim is of central focus and is assured support and assistance throughout the process. The victim is invited to actively participate in the mediation process to allow direct feedback to the offender about how the offense has impacted their life and to express their personal feelings about being violated. The presence of trained mediators allows a safe forum to resolve conflict and empowers the victim by allowing him/her an active role in influencing the consequences for the offender. This process allows the victim to achieve closure to the incident and lowers their anxiety about being revictimized by the offender in the future.

Gary Fortenberry is the project director of the Corning Restorative Justice program.