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The Theology and Practice

of Restorative Justice

A Workshop 

Sponsored by the

Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ 

With Presenters:

 Rev. Jerry Hancock

Justice Janine Geake

 Thursday June 5, 2008

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Bauer Lodge, Green Lake Conference Center

Restorative Justice is an exciting and increasingly important approach to social justice issues. There are many different ways of practicing Restorative Justice, but they all have one thing in common: seeking to repair the torn fabric of society. Some of these programs take place in prisons, like the ones offered by The Prison Ministry Project of First Congregational UCC in Madison. Some take place in the streets of Milwaukee, like those led by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and others developed through the youth initiatives led by Janine Geske and her students at Marquette.

Known worldwide for her commitment to Restorative Justice, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske is the Distinguished Professor of Law at Marquette University and Director of the Restorative Justice Initiative. The Initiative is committed to supporting victims and communities in the healing process by providing information and training resources and by faciliating communication.


The Rev. Jerry Hancock, entered the ministry after working for more than 30 years in the criminal justice system. In February, 2006, Rev. Hancock became the Director of the Prison Ministry Project. The Project is an outreach ministry of First Congregational UCC in Madison. Its challenge is to serve prisoners and their families, engage the wider church in prison issues and to be an advocate for prison reform.

Forgiveness, Grace, Healing...Restorative Justice 

For Christians, Restorative Justice is all about the healing power of forgiveness. As Christians, we believe that our sins are forgiven by the free grace of God. But forgiveness among people requires some effort. Traditionally, forgiveness has required contrition, confession and compensation. Restorative Justice programs, like those at the maximum security prisons in Green Bay and Portage, Wisconsin, try to promote forgiveness by helping prisoners understand the full consequences of their crimes. This involves face-to-face meetings between inmates and victims, though in larger groups, and never with prisoners' own, specific victims. 

The hope of the Restorative Justice program is that by understanding the full range of very personal and very real human suffering that crimes create, inmates can accept responsibility and feel true contrition for the harm they have done. Compensation, while not direct, comes from their dedication to live a more positive life both inside and outside prison. 

There is, however, an unexpected result from these meetings. The program often involves a group of 30 inmates and four or five victims. The inmates hear the victims' stories but the victims also hear the inmates' stories. Often the inmates tell of victimization by their own families. 

At the end of the sharing time, inmates, victims and staff are in tears. There is recognition of shared suffering. There is real responsibility taken, real sorrow expressed and genuine promises made to restore the damage done in the human family. 

 Forgiveness, Grace, Healing.  Those are the values that we, as Christians, seek through Restorative Justice.

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