Volunteer mentors in Lincoln County are helping rehabilitate young offenders with restorative rather than punitive justice.
Restorative justice offers a conceptual framework for understanding harm to relationships and steps that move toward repairing the harm and healing the relationships, according to the Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast website.
The Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast started in Waldo County 10 years ago, according to Sarah Mattox, restorative conferencing program coordinator.
“We officially expanded to Lincoln County just over a year ago, largely thanks to the support of the Gorman Foundation, the Department of Corrections, and the Elizabeth Ann Leach Charitable Trust,” Mattox said.
The mission of the Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast is to offer restorative alternatives to the traditional justice system and school punishment system, according to Mattox.
“We aim for prevention in the schools, intervention in the community, and reintegration into the community from jails,” Mattox said. “We want to get communities thinking collectively about how to respond to misbehavior and harm.”
The Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast hired Chris Jones to be the Lincoln and Sagadahoc County restorative community conferencing program coordinator once the need for the project grew.
“He works with around 25 volunteer mentors serving predominately juveniles in trouble with the law or at school,” Mattox said.
Jones, whose main office is in Bath, said he has overseen eight to 10 cases of mentoring in Lincoln County this past year.
Dennis Anderson, of Newcastle, is one of those volunteer mentors.
According to Anderson, he and friend Mary Ellen Whalen reached out to Mattox around three years ago to host a meeting about the project.
“We held an informational meeting at Skidompha Library,” Anderson said. “Around 25 people came, and Sarah discussed RJPM with us.”
A group of volunteer mentors, including Anderson, came from that discussion at the library.
Anderson is currently in the process of mentoring his second student.
“This is my second year as a mentor,” he said. “I hope to continue mentoring through this program. I don’t see an end to me volunteering.”
Generally, Anderson mentors adolescent males who have minor offenses.
Every mentor assignment starts with a “community gathering,” according to Anderson, where members of law enforcement, the mentee, the mentor, and usually the victims of the crime, all discuss and plan a “repair agreement.”
“Chris Jones acts as the gathering’s mediator,” Anderson said. “The repair agreement is a formal document to say what needs to be completed for healing and restoration to be made.”
Often, the agreement includes the costs to be repaid, some amount of community service to be completed, and reaching out to the victims on some level. Often the mentee will write letters of apology to the victims, though the agreement varies for each situation.
“We try to put in an educational piece for the mentees to complete,” Anderson said. “Sometimes they will need to attend programs about drug and alcohol use.”
Anderson said he meets weekly with his mentee to check in and give guidance if needed.
“My first impression of both of my mentees was one where I was sympathetic to their situations,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t completely sure that they were capable of doing what was expected of them.”
His impression changed when he came to the realization that the student was more than capable of accomplishing new goals and expectations.
If the mentee does not successfully navigate and complete the repair agreement, the court ultimately decides their fate, Anderson said.
Anderson believes the program is effective.
“I can definitely see positive improvements in both of my mentees,” he said. “One can never rule out the possibility for setbacks, but overall, the positive experiences and lessons have improved them.”
The volunteer mentors in Lincoln County have the opportunity to meet monthly with Jones to talk about their mentees and receive support, according to Anderson.
Of course, the Restorative Justice Project does not work for all crimes or for all people.
“Usually, it works for many more people and incidents then we realize,” Anderson said.
According to Anderson, the project is always looking for new mentors.
“The chance to offer direction and guidance and to help change a young person’s life is truly humbling,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s own life is busy. He owns a small landscaping company, Salt Bay Horticulture, is the president of the Central Lincoln County YMCA Board of Directors, is a basketball official, and has six children of his own, with ages ranging from 6 to 26.
“My wife and I enjoy being busy,” he said. “We’re very fortunate. Volunteer mentoring for restorative justice is a great opportunity to give back.”
Another volunteer mentor training is coming up Feb. 12, 19, and 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., in Wiscasset. The location is yet to be determined, according to Mattox.
For more information, visit www.rjpmidcoast.org.
