Some examples of success for the “restorative lawyer.”

There are many examples—but here are three cases where, guided by restorative values and principles, we were able to improve the outcome and celebrate the successes of three young adults in our community.

RELATIONSHIP

Restorative lawyers value relationships. This note was written by a young high school graduate. I met her when she was two and her grandmothers were working on options to keep the child out of foster care when her mother suffered from drug addition. The grandmothers collaborated to find the best options for this child, as she matured into a successful young woman.

RESPONSIBILTY

When a young man in high school was excluded and threatened with criminal charges after a serious altercation, his family wasn’t sure what to do. The young man, his mother and father, their minister, and a community volunteer, worked together to create a Family Group Conference, even without a formal program. The young man accepted responsibility for the wrong doing and fully engaged in plan to further his formal education during his exclusion from school. He worked with community groups volunteering and did one-on-one work to help reach his potential. Fortunately, he was never prosecuted, he returned to school and excelled in academics and sports. He is currently serving in the military.

COLLABORATION

When a young man experienced near constant seizures that developed as a result of an injury on a military base as an infant, his parents retained our office to file suit under the federal tort claims act. During the mediation, the mediator took a break and the US Attorney and I, joined the mother of the child to discuss outcomes. After about an hour, we created a budget for both a special needs trust and a structured settlement to maximize his access to medical services to improve his potential for a recovery and to create resources for him as a young adult. Like the other three young people featured on this page, he was able to graduate from high school. With the resources he was able to make a substantial recovery and live independent as a young adult.