The Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison: Rebuilding the Web of Relationships

by Barb Toews

Over 170,000 copies sold! Restorative justice argues that crime destroys people and relationships. Justice, then, must repair and rebuild people and relationships. This is true for men and women that are incarcerated as it is for victims.

The more than 2.3 million incarcerated individuals in the United States are often regarded as a throw-away population. While the criminal-justice system focuses on giving offenders "what they deserve," it does little to restore the needs created by crime or to explore the factors that lead to it. Restorative justice, with its emphasis on identifying the justice needs of everyone involved in a crime, is helping to restore prisoners' sense of humanity while holding them accountable for their actions.

In this book, Barb Toews, with years of experience in prison work, shows how people in prison can live restorative-justice principles. She shows how these practices can change prison culture and society. Chapters include;

Written for readers who are incarcerated, and for all those who work with people in prison, this book also clearly outlines the experiences and needs of this under-represented and often overlooked part of our society.

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Emily Mastroly · Rating 3 out of 5]

a quick introduction to restorative justice! this book has lots of subsections and diagrams, making it very accessible. I wish there were more concrete resources for putting restorative justice into practice. regardless, I am excited to discuss it in class!

[Lino Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restorative Justice and Prisons: Thoughts


The Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison: Rebuilding the Web of Relationships by Barb Toews is not a new book. It was published in 2006. Yet it feels fresh and relevant. Perhaps it is because the author understands that prison is a community. Perhaps it is because the author has a deep and profound understanding of Howard Zehr and his The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Perhaps they have lived Restorative Justice and understand that it is more than a theory, it can be put into practice. The author understands that “punishment may cause further harm to the offender, victim, offender’s family, and the community.”
“So what?” Some will think. Let’s slow down and think about that ‘so what”.
• Do we really want to do further damage to the community?
• Do we really want to harm the offender’s family?
• Do we really want to further harm the victim’s family?
• Do we really want to further harm the victim?
Well, further harming the offender is likely to do all those things. Sometimes it is unavoidable. Usually, it is not unavoidable. Society can and should do better. Scratch an offender and find a trauma. The world needs more healing and less walls.
People, and that includes the incarcerated have defined restorative justice in the following way:
• It heals broken relationships and abuses, buy people and for people
• It builds instead of blames
• It confronts a situation and helps those involved find a place of understanding, healing, and acceptance of each other
• It works to make life better for others and for oneself.
A wise person explained that Restorative Justice was what their grandmothers taught them: “Respect yourself and others, clean up your messes, and treat others as you want to be treated.”
Respect yourself and others, clean up your messes, and treat others as you want to be treated.
This is a small book that is big on wisdom. If you have read Howard Zehr’s classic The Little Book of Restorative Justice, you might find parts redundant. Treat those as a review and reminder. There is enough freshness to this book that it makes a great review. If it is your first encounter with Restorative Justice, good fortune, it is a great place to start.

Last week was Restorative Justice week. The world needs more Restorative Justice.

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[Drick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barb Toews has done restorative justice work in several Pennsylvania prisons and from that experience writes with a focus on those who are victims of crime, offenders of crime, and families of both. As such she offers some practical guides to those caught up in the criminal legal system and in particular incarceration.

After providing a basic overview of RJ principles, she describes Rj as guided by the four values of respect, care, trust, and humility and proceeds to show how those values can be actualized for victims and their families, offenders, and the families of offenders. Throughout the book, there are real-life stories that are used to illustrate the way Rj has been used with those who are incarcerated and those victimized by their crimes.

As I read the book, I could not help but think of the Rj group in Phoenix prison where I have gotten to know some men seeking to apply Rj to their lives even while they are incarcerated, and its healing power for them.

[Amelia]

I picked this book up at a local library book sale, and although it was geared towards people in prison, I still found it relevant.
I’ll definitely want to look back at Chapter 7: Reconnecting Victims and Their Communities of Care, Chapter 8: Reconnecting Offenders, Chapter 10: Restorative- Justice Practices, and Chapter 12: Restorative Living

[Sara Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid introduction to restorative justice and its practices.

[Toto Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main book that we use at San Quentin every week for our Restorative Justice program. Talks about healing, the importance of maintaining a strong web of relationship, and accountability among others. In our small group discussion, using this book as a guide, one listens to raw, honest and insightful sharing from people inside the circle. Good guide questions.