‘A sea of hope’ in an ocean of crime
Respect, responsibility and relationships – those are the three words Susan Anderson says to victims and perpetrators.
Resolving conflict comes naturally for the former restorative justice worker, who has become a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Introduced to the legal system in 2000, restorative justice is where a victim and offender meet to share their experience of what happened.
The meetings aim to get offenders to take responsibility for their actions, understand the harm they caused and give them an opportunity to redeem themselves.
Ultimately, it is to discourage them from causing further harm.
For victims, its goal is to give them an active role in the process and understand their offender.
When Anderson started in 2006, restorative justice was perceived as a soft option.
It was criticised by those who saw punishment as an integral part to Kiwis’ sense of justice. People wanted to see offenders locked away without mercy.
But pursuing restorative remedies were becoming more empowering. And they’re working.
For several years, Anderson teamed up with Ruapehu’s family violence co-ordinator, Gabrielle Quirke, to curb domestic assaults.
The pair ran the Whakakotahitanga domestic violence programme out of the Taumarunui police station.
It consisted of an intensive weekend retreat for recidivist family violence couples, aimed at enabling them to identify and cope with violence triggers.
They saw immediate success. Family harm call-outs in Ruapehu reduced by 70 per cent.
Anderson wanted to see the programme replicated elsewhere in New Zealand, but it isn’t funded.
‘‘It takes a special person driving it.
‘‘It’s amazing because people are being given the chance [to learn how to cope] and it’s a wrap around support for the couple. They can call her [Quirke] or they can call in to the station and see her.’’
Anderson said justice wasn’t solely about punishing people who didn’t have the tools to deal with trauma or difficult situations.
‘‘When someone makes a mistake we have a responsibility to fix it.
‘‘Everyone that comes through restorative justice has a criminal [conviction] and it takes a lot of courage to come together. Justice is about making things right.’’
Anderson resigned from her role last year. She now writes cultural reports for offenders before sentencing.
She was on the executive board of Restorative Practices Aotearoa for two years and was chairwoman of the selection panel for the Morikanui Tertiary Educational Scholarships for the Whanganui Ma¯ori Trust Board for 10 years.
She was appointed chairwoman of RISE – Stopping Violence Services last year.
She has presented papers at restorative justice conferences in Vancouver, Canada, and Melbourne and Hobart, Australia, on family violence, restorative communities and victim engagement.
‘‘This work is a sea of hope in an ocean of possibility.’’
Anderson encouraged anyone suffering abuse at home to speak up and seek help.
It was also important to remember seeking help didn’t mean criminal proceedings would follow, but would rather teach people how to deal with conflict. ‘‘Come forward to the police. That’s what they’re there for – they’re all about prevention, because your neighbours will know, people will know.
‘‘Sitting on it alone, it will only get worse. Each time it gets worse.’’