By Jessica Hamp LMSW
“Healing from Sexual Violence: The Case for Vicarious Restorative Justice” should be required reading for anyone working with individuals with histories of problematic sexual behaviors or those working with individuals who have experience sexual violence. Alissa Ackerman, Ph.D., and Jill Leveson, Ph.D. speak to the humanity of individuals and the connections that can be made through shared experiences when we really take the time to listen to each other. At the 2018 Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers Conference (ATSA) in Vancouver, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Ackerman, sex crimes researcher and rape survivor, speak with two other incredible women on the topic of restorative justice and the use of vicarious restorative justice. Dr. Levenson was in the audience and she and Dr. Ackerman shared that they were working on a book together. Given Dr. Levenson’s incredible trauma-based approach to treatment and Dr. Ackerman’s “Brené Brown like” views on vulnerability and connection, along with her vast knowledge of sexual crime policy, I could not wait for their book to be released.
To provide context about the nuances between restorative justice and vicarious restorative justice it is important to examine these two concepts. In “Healing from Sexual Violence: The Case for Vicarious Restorative Justice,” the authors describe restorative justice as:
A framework under which multiple options for harm reduction, acknowledgment, accountability and connections exist (Oudshoor, Jackett & Amstutz, 2015). One of the most common restorative justice practices is “victim/offender conferencing” (VOC). VOC is a process that brings individuals who have been harmed into a safe space with the individual who committed the harmful act (Amstrutz, 2015). The parties meet with a trained facilitator who has prepared both parties for the face-to-face meeting (pp. 6-7).
Whereas Vicarious Restorative Justice (VRJ) is:
An alternative model to the traditional restorative justice model that brings people together who have been victimized, but not by their own specific offenders. Using the VRJ model allows victims to share their stories, the effects of crime, the harm it caused and it allows them to offer ideas about how to make things right. The process allows for a sense of justice that is measured not by length of prison sentence, but by conversations about accountability, empathy, amends, resolution and reconciliation. As participants express their experiences and feelings, offenders explore ways of making restitution for the harm caused by their actions and victims consider ways to move towards healing and restoration. VRJ is a model that allows offenders and victims of crimes to hear one another’s perspective in ways that are non-threatening and detached from the personalized relationship of those involved in the crime (pp. 23).
In “Healing from Sexual Violence: The Case for Vicarious Restorative Justice,” the two authors’ voices come together seamlessly to not only address restorative justice and vicarious restorative justice, but to outline concepts and address policy through the use of data and personal narratives emphasizing “policies that name, shame and isolate do not make us safer”. The argument for genuine connection through vulnerably is stressed, as is the idea of “wholehearted listening and engaging in difficult conversations” that can have a positive impact on everyone. “Healing from intimate harm requires connection.” To conclude, everyone should read this book.
If the topic of restorative justice is of interest, check out the following:
Dr. Ackerman’s TED Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTfBVR1eLFo
“South of Forgiveness: A True Story of Rape and Responsibility” by Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger
Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/thordis_elva_and_tom_stranger_our_story_of_rape_and_reconciliation?language=en
More developments in this movement: One of the MacArthur “Genius” awards for 2019 went to sujatha baliga for her work in restorative justice.
Here is a link to an article about hers and others work. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/opinion/metoo-doesnt-always-have-to-mean-prison.html?action=click&module=moreIn&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer&action=click&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer&contentCollection=Opinion
If you have more interest in this topic and want to pursue continuing education credits, there are trainings available at websites such as the Global Institute of Forensic Research or Safer Society Press.