VOA慢速英語:Restorative Justice for Youthful Offenders

From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語教育報道。

The path to prison often starts at a young age. One way to keep young offenders out of the criminal justice system is called restorative justice.

走向監(jiān)獄之路往往是在年輕時就開始的。一種讓少年犯避開刑事司法系統的辦法被稱為恢復性司法。

One of the first non-profits organizations to use this method is Community Works in Oakland, California. The organization now handles 100 cases a year, it works in partnership with the district attorney's office and the probation department.

加州奧克蘭市的Community Works是采用該辦法的首批非營利性組織之一。該組織現在同地區(qū)檢察官辦公室和緩刑部門通力合作，每年處理100例案例。

Matthew Golde is a prosecutor in the district attorney's office. He says prison is not the best solution for most young people who commit a crime.

馬修·戈爾德(Matthew Golde)是地區(qū)檢察官辦公室的檢察長。他說，監(jiān)禁對犯罪的青少年來說不是最好的解決辦法。

"We know what happens when you incarcerate juveniles for a long period of time. They come out worse. For the vast majority, it is not empirically the best thing to do. So the question is 'What do we do?'"

戈爾德說，“我們知道監(jiān)禁青少年很長時間會發(fā)生什么。他們出來后會變得更糟。對絕大對數人來說，實際上這不是最好的辦法。所以問題就是，我們該怎么做?”

"I'm sorry for my actions on March 17, 2013, when you tried to stop me on the street in Berkeley. There is no excuse for what I did."

“我對2013年3月17日自己的行為非常抱歉，當時你在伯克利街道上試圖阻止我。我當時的行為不可原諒。”

John is 16 years old. He got caught tagging, putting graffiti on a building. He tried to run away and hit a police officer while resisting arrest. John is reading his letter of apology to the officer.

約翰現年16歲。他在建筑物上涂鴉時被抓。他試圖逃跑，并在拒捕時打了警察。約翰正在讀他寫給警察的道歉信。

"I still don't understand why I did it, but I do understand what a terrible choice it was to make in the moment. Hurting you was not my intention."

“我還是沒明白我當時為什么那么做，但我知道我真的錯了。傷害你不是我的本意。”

Instead of a judge, there is a facilitated. John's parents are attending the conference with the police officer he attacked. They are sitting in a circle, and speaking directly to each other.

沒有法官，有的是一次調解。約翰的父母和約翰襲擊的警察舉行了一次會議。他們圍坐成一圈，直接面對面交談。

Melissa Saavedra is an employee of Community Works, with her assistance, they agree on a restitution plan. John will perform 20 hours of community service and do work at home for his parents.

梅利莎·薩維德拉(Melissa Saavedra)是Community Works的工作人員。在她的協調下，他們同意了一個回歸方案。約翰將進行20小時的社區(qū)服務，并在家里幫助父母做家務。

"He's monitored very closely by myself with the support of mom and dad. We go through a plan and do right by the victim."

薩維德拉說，“我將在他父母的協助下嚴密關注他。我們和受害者通過了一個方案。”

John was given a second chance, He can return to school with no criminal record.

約翰獲得了第二次機會。他可以不留犯罪記錄重返校園。

Sujatha Baliga is the Restorative Justice director with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, he says studies show that offenders going through restorative conferencing are less likely to commit a crime again in the future.

蘇嘉達·巴利加(Sujatha Baliga)是美國犯罪與少年罪錯理事會的恢復性司法理事。他說，研究顯示，經歷過恢復性會議的少年犯未來很少再次犯罪。

Restorative justice is not well-known in the United States, but the system dates back hundreds of years, used by American Indian tribes and the aborigines of New Zealand. Mennonites in Ontario, Canada started the modern-day practice in the 1970s. The idea has since spread to other parts of the world.

恢復性司法在美國名氣不大，但該系統幾百年前被美國印第安部落和新西蘭原住民采用。加拿大安大略省的門諾教派于20世紀70年代開始進行現代實踐。自此該理念傳播到了世界其它地區(qū)。

Ruth Morgan is the executive director of Community Works. He says the group will soon expand the program to work with the district attorney in nearby San Francisco.

魯斯·摩根(Ruth Morgan)是Community Works的執(zhí)行董事。他說，該組織將很快擴大該項目同附近的舊金山的地區(qū)檢察官合作。

Restorative practices have already spread to public schools in the San Francisco and Oakland area. Teachers and administrators are using restorative circles and conferencing to reduce student suspensions and expulsions.

恢復性司法實踐已經傳播到舊金山和奧克蘭地區(qū)的公立學校。教師們和管理者們正采用恢復性圓圈會議，減少學生被停學和開除。