Real Justice [Paperback]

Ted Wachtel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0963388738 | ISBN-13: 978-0963388735 | Publication Date: May 15, 1998

From Wagga Wagga, Australia, to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a revolution is taking place in how police, courts, schools and workplaces respond to wrongdoing. Instead of just doling out punishment to offenders, we are changing our criminal justice and disciplinary systems to address the harm done to victims and the community. Based in ancient tribal practices, REAL JUSTICE involves victims, offenders and their families and friends in a face-to-face process called "restorative justice conferencing." In his book, REAL JUSTICE, Ted Wachtel offers a moving and powerful account of the growth and development of restorative justice conferencing in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States through true stories of victims and offenders in real life encounters. In vivid testimony, we see victims confront shoplifters and vandals, bullies and arsonists with their emotions. Offenders usually shed their "tough guy" images and come away with empathy and understanding for those they have harmed -- not only their victims, but their own families as well. Restorative justice conferencing holds offenders accountable and satisfies victims more effectively than our courts and school disciplinary processes. REAL JUSTICE brings us hope for a better future. "During Terry O'Connell's presentation I was seized by an epiphany, a sudden intuitive realization that I had just encountered an essential universal truth. Restorative justice conferencing was so simple that it was elegant, so basic that it was complete. Nothing in my experience with young offenders could match the positive outcomes being described by this Australian police officer. I wanted to bring restorative justice conferencing to North America, where we lead the world in escalating juvenile crime and school misconduct." -- Ted Wachtel, founder of Real Justice and president of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Graduate School

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ted Wachtel and his wife, Susan Wachtel, both former teachers, founded the Community Service Foundation in 1977 to provide specialized educational, counseling and residential services for troubled and delinquent youth. He also co-authored TOUGHLOVE, the bestselling book for parents of troubled adolescents. In 1994, he established the Real Justice program to bring conferencing to North America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Piper's Press (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963388738
• ISBN-13: 978-0963388735
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,952,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply thoughtful, though short and sweet, September 9, 2009

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1000Books "1000Books" (NY,NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Justice (Paperback)

A very short read, Real Justice puts front and center some very interesting ideas about conflict resolution and points out a fundamental problem with the current system. If we add this book into the discourse of philosophy, it makes for 1 very large case study on why institutionalization/bureaucratization is a real issue. Like a hydra there is no one to blame but the state. This is a spin (real example) of the discourse within philosophy that suggests the disconnected feeling people have the consequences of actions, assets itself on the "other" in a bureaucratic system where one does have not have to "face" the victims of their actions.

An offense occurs. Instead of the conflict management of the good old days where retribution between two parties was made directly between individuals, children/people/citizens address the state, a feelingless third party who has only passing interest in the emotional aspects of justice. What then are the key elements of government and maintaining the peace? Understanding and appreciating what this book is saying, places such a discourse in an entirely different light for me.

As this is my first introduction to the idea and the general oddity of how the system has evolved, I must give it 2 thumbs up and a big gold star. Also, for the ADHD audience of the modern age, this is an easy read with really big font, but tons of knowledge!!