Restorative justice

For years, officials who run prisons and other correctional facilities have recognized that "the system" has a way of perpetuating a life of crime. For several years, Missouri's prison system has focused on rehabilitation, but many adult offenders return to crime after a prison stay.

Another program aims at changing the lives of young offenders by making them aware of the impact their actions have on others while giving them an opportunity to make amends and perform community service. The program is call restorative justice, and it is having a positive impact.

In Southeast Missouri's Mississippi County, where young offenders are required to go through the special program, recidivism had dropped to 6 percent from 20 percent. That makes a big difference over the years in the costs associated with apprehending, prosecuting and incarcerating those who continue to commit crimes.

Restorative justice aims to teach youths accountability for their unlawful actions while giving them a sense of self-esteem, something that is often lacking in their home life.

Another aspect of restorative justice is bringing offender and victim together so that a crime's effects can be dealt with on a personal level. The program also gives victims an opportunity to assess an offender's participation in the program.

For a nation in which building prisons has become a major growth industry, restorative justice holds a great deal of promise for turning potential inmates in productive citizens.