wfn.org | Restorative Justice Award goes to Idaho woman

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Note #6545 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

5-June-2001
01189

Restorative Justice Award goes to Idaho woman

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - Presbyterian elder Carolyn Peterson, of Coeur d'Alene, ID, who
for nearly two decades has served as administrator of the Kootenai County
Juvenile Diversion Program, will receive the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s
2001 Restorative Justice Award.

Peterson was nominated for the honor by her session at First Presbyterian
Church in Coeur d'Alene. The award - a certificate and a plaque bearing the
restorative justice emblem - will be presented in Idaho this summer. A
specific date has not been set.

The award, presented each year since 1992 by the Criminal Justice Program of
the National Ministries Division (NMD), honors Presbyterian individuals or
groups that make outstanding contributions to direct-service ministries or
to advocacy efforts to change the criminal justice system in the United
States.

The term "restorative justice" was defined by the denomination's General
Assembly in 1978 as "addressing the hurts and needs of the victim, the
offender and the community in such a way that all - victim, offender and the
community - might be healed."

More than 8,000 young people have participated in the Juvenile Diversion
Program in Idaho, which emphasizes accountability, mentoring, apology,
restitution, community service and other alternatives to the courts and
corrections system. More than 80 percent have not become repeat offenders.

"Restorative justice seems especially beneficial when young people are
prevented from winding up in the system later as adults," said the Rev. Mike
Bullard, pastor at First Presbyterian, Peterson's church. "That would seem
the best justice of all."

As an elder at First Presbyterian, Peterson helped the congregation deal
with offenders. When a young staff member confessed to the theft and
vandalism of church property, she helped him formulate a program of
restitution.

"His presence today in the church as a valued youth leader demonstrates not
only that she has turned lives around," said the Rev. Kathy Lancaster,
associate for criminal justice in NMD, "but also how she has changed the
views of many people about how to help young offenders."

Peterson is also active as a volunteer leader in the community. As a speaker
and workshop presenter, she educates others about the importance of
parent-child communication, responsibility for one's actions, and positive
self-esteem. She serves on a drug advisory board for a local school
district, and on the board of directors of the Kootenai Substance Abuse
Council.

Thirteen nominations, a record number, were received for this year's justice
award, "and the selection committee had a very difficult time deciding this
year's recipient," Lancaster said.

The other nominees were Gerre L. Brenneman, nominated by Presbytery of San
Joaquin, CA; Rufus C. Brooks, Washington Shores Presbyterian Church,
Orlando, FL; Steve Dishman, First Presbyterian Church, Uvalde, TX; Elsie L.
Dursi, First Presbyterian Church,Youngstown, OH; Sandy Griswold, First
Presbyterian Church, Hudson, WI; Joe Heckel and Mary Sage, nominated by the
Racial, Social Justice and Reconciliation Ministry Team of Pittsburgh
Presbytery; Barbara Leach, First Presbyterian Church, Bath, NY; Lowell
Listrom, First Presbyterian Church, North Kansas City, MO; the Rev. John
Sisley, a retired Presbyterian minister who served First Presbyterian
Church, Utica, NY; Florette Smithiger, nominated by the session of
Northminster Presbyterian Church, Phoenix, AZ; Linda L. White, nominated by
the session of Northwoods Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX; and four
law-enforcement officers related to Bethel Presbyterian Church, Kingsport,
TN - Special Agent Criminal Investigator Franklin McCauley, Detective Debbie
McCauley, Corporal Darla Anderson-Kelly and Officer Kevin Kelly.

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