VOA慢速英语:Restorative Justice for Youthful Offenders

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.
通往监狱的道路往往是在年轻时就开始的。一种让少年犯避开刑事司法系统的办法被称为恢复性司法。

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.
加州奥克兰市的Community Works是第一批采用该办法的非营利性组织之一。该组织现在同地区检察官办公室和缓刑部门作，每年处理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.
Matthew Golde是地区检察官办公室的检察官。他说，监禁对多少少年犯来说不是最好的解决办法。

"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?'"
“我们知道监禁青少年一段很长时间会发生什么。他们出来后会变得更糟。对绝大对数人来说，实际上这不是最好的办法。所以问题就是，我们应该做什么？”

"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."
“我对于自己在2013年3月17日的行动表示抱歉，当时你在伯克利街道上试图阻止我。我当时的所作所为不可原谅。”

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.
John现年16岁。他在建筑物上涂鸦时被抓。他试图逃跑，拒捕时打了警察。John正在读他写给警察的道歉信。

"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."
“我还是不明白为什么我会那样做，但我知道我真的错了。伤害你不是我的本意。”

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.
取代法官而来的是一次调解。John的父母和他袭击的警察举行了一次会议。他们围坐成一圈，直接面对面谈话。

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.
Melissa Saavedra是Community Works的工作人员。在她的协助下，他们同意了一个回归方案。John将进行20小时的社区服务，并在家里帮助父母做家务。
"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."
 “我将在他父母的协助下密切的监视他。我们和受害者通过了一个方案。”

John was given a second chance, He can return to school with no criminal record.
John获得了第二次机会。他没有留下犯罪记录重返校园。

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.
Sujatha Baliga是美国犯罪与少年罪错理事会的恢复性司法理事。他说，研究显示，经历过恢复性会议的少年犯未来很少再次犯罪。

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.
恢复性司法在并非周所周知，但该系统可以追溯到几百年前的美国印第安部落和新西兰原住民。加拿大安大略省的门诺教派于20世纪70年代开始进行现代实践。自此该理念传播到了世界其它地区。

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.
Ruth Morgan是Community Works的执行董事。他说，该组织将很快扩大该项目同附近的旧金山的地区检察官合作。

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.
恢复性司法实践已经传播到旧金山和奥克兰地区的公立学校。教师和管理者正采用恢复性圆圈会议，减少学生被停学和开除。