Basil Jarrett | Restorative what? Jamaica’s peace programme deserves a new name

OK FOLKS, listen up. What if I told you that right here, right now in this Jamaica, land we love, where we often lament the violent way in which we resolve conflicts, there is this one thing that has an 80 per cent success rate of resolving disputes between countless communities, families, and individuals right across the island? You would probably lean in closer, eager to hear the answer, but then pull back quizzically when you hear the words, ‘Restorative Justice Programme’.

“Restora-what now?” you mumble as you reach for your dictionary, a notepad, and the telephone number of a lawyer friend to help you fully grasp what this term means. But let’s pause for a second to look at what this transformative Ministry of Justice initiative is, and isn’t.

In essence, the Restorative Justice Programme is a way for people to work out their issues with the guidance of a trained facilitator, often face-to-face, with the person they’re at odds with. Think of it as a controlled, well-structured heart-to-heart aimed at arriving at an amicable and peaceful resolution. Instead of spending hours waiting outside a courthouse, nervous and sweating about what might happen once inside, you’re in a comfortable room, sitting with the person you’ve had issues with, and under the expert eyes of a skilled facilitator guiding the conversation. You get to express your feelings, share your side, listen to theirs, and find common ground. It’s structured, it’s safe, and, if the 80 per cent success rate is anything to go by, it’s working.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN REAL LIFE

To get an idea of what the RJ programme looks like in real life, imagine a young person who’s been caught shoplifting. Traditional justice might mean charges, fines, and possibly a record that follows them for years, not to mention his granny’s thick leather belt coming down on his behind. But with restorative justice, that young person might sit down with the shop owner, hear about the impact of his actions, and work out a way to make things right. Maybe some volunteer hours, maybe an apology, maybe both. The goal here is to repair the relationship and show that mistakes can be learnt from, not just punished.

But restorative justice doesn’t stop at minor offences. Restorative justice has been used in schools to resolve bullying cases, in communities to settle land disputes, and even between friends and family members who’ve had a falling out. It’s about facing up to the issue, rather than sweeping it under the rug or dragging it into a full-blown legal battle. The RJ programme is therefore about healing and mending fences – often literally – and gives persons a practical way to resolve disputes without having to see the inside of said courtroom. And perhaps best of all, it’s free.

LOW TAKE-UP RATE

The one problem the programme seems to have, however, is its low take-up rate. For whatever reasons, many persons are not availing themselves of this effective, free and accessible programme where they could go to work things out, find resolutions, and rebuild relationships. If more of us did, the courts would have less backlogs, communities would have fewer flareups, and maybe, just maybe, some of those violent community feuds would settle themselves in a less explosive manner. Without a doubt, this programme could be Jamaica’s best-kept secret, but again, for some reason, take-up is less than impressive.

There could be various reasons for this. Maybe outreach and promotions could be stronger. Perhaps there are lingering misconceptions about the programme. Or maybe grassroots support is just lacking. Who knows? But one place that I am going to suggest that we look, however, is in the very name of the programme itself.

TIME FOR A NAME CHANGE?

Let’s be honest. The name ‘restorative justice’ sounds more like something you’d read in a self-help book than a powerful tool for peacekeeping. It’s a name that says, “This might be a bit academic and may need an advanced degree to fully understand”. And nothing scares us Jamaicans more than hearing that something is going to be academic. Perhaps a name that pops, or one that people actually understand and can relate to, is where we need to begin. Years ago, when I first came across the term ‘restorative justice’, I envisioned one of two things. The first was that it was some complicated courtroom procedure far beyond my untrained legal mind. The second was that it was a yoga retreat that involves journalling your innermost feelings, while exhaling deeply and balancing on one leg. Neither of these two options screams “this programme could actually help you solve that problem with your neighbour”, and therein lies the problem.

You see, Jamaicans are a practical people. We like things straightforward and simple. A little clarity goes a long way. Perhaps what we need is a name that communicates this powerful programme’s true value, and fast, because there’s a world of potential here just waiting to be tapped into. ‘The Peace Plan’, ‘Talk It Out Jamaica’, even ‘Community Healing Circle’ might do a better job at getting the message across, I don’t know. But ‘restorative justice’ doesn’t exactly scream ‘simple, practical, and for everyone’, does it?

JAMAICA’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

If we want more people to buy in, we may need to get more creative with the branding as, to my mind, ‘restorative justice’ is a bit too stiff, a bit too vague, a bit too, uhm, perplexing. To be fair, the ministry is probably hamstrung in arriving at a name that just rolls of the tongue, because the term ‘restorative justice’ is an international concept. But that ought not to stop us from coming up with a moniker or tagline that everyone feels they can trust, understand, and, most importantly, use.

But whatever we decide to call it, we must endeavour to support and take advantage of this fantastic, life-changing programme as a game changer in our conflict and dispute resolution landscape. The programme is free, accessible, convenient, and effective at resolving conflicts and disputes. And given our struggles with retribution, conflict resolution and revenge crimes, a programme like this is a godsend. If only the name wasn’t such a mouthful.

Major Basil Jarrett is a communi-cations strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting, a communi-cations consulting firm specialising in crisis communications and reputation management. Visit him at www.thecrisismajor.com. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.