Latest news with #restorativejustice
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
University of Sheffield student play heading to Edinburgh Fringe
A stage drama written and performed by students from the University of Sheffield will be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe arts play, called Peace Circle, is based on a restorative justice procedure that sees a criminal come face-to-face with his victim's family following a the cast and crew are current or recently graduated students of the and director Lucy Singer, 21, said: "It's very, very exciting - the festival is a cornerstone of the whole theatre industry, it's where everybody who does theatre wants to go." The play explores the story of a murderer being confronted by his victim's family during a series of supervised talking Singer said the group had to pitch the play to organisers of the festival and they were chosen from three competing added that performing was "not cheap", but the group was financially supported by the students' union's alumni fund and private hoped being part of the Fringe could help her achieve her dream of becoming scriptwriter."It's comforting to know we'll be surrounded by so many other amateur and student productions - there's other people dipping their toes in," she said. Actress Emelia Lodge said she attended drama school before going to university, but now had new opportunities to "try loads of different aspects" of the she believed it had also improved her skills on stage."Drama school was amazing, but that consumes your life - sometimes you're there from eight in the morning to eight at night," she said."You had no time to pursue other things if you wanted to, and I think a lot of theatre is about life experience."Fellow cast member Roberto Rowinski said they were feeling "confidence, nerves, and excitement" ahead of their performance at the Fringe."We've done so many rehearsals and gone over it so many times, so hopefully we'll be going into it relatively confident that we can perform it to the best of our ability."The production will be hosted by Edinburgh's Space Triplex venue between 18 and 23 August. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
Restorative Pathways opens Phoenix Rising Youth Home in Oakland for homeless youth
It's a new chapter for Restorative Pathways. They just opened Phoenix Rising Youth Home in Oakland to provide shelter for unhoused youth. "It is two floors, right now you are seeing our top floor, which is meant for girls who are coming in through the city of Oakland. They are either experiencing homelessness, exploitation, substance use disorder, and the list goes on and on," Sophora Acheson, the CEO of Restorative Pathways, told CBS News Bay Area. There are 12 total beds at the youth home, but currently, six beds are being refurbished and are not yet ready. The other six beds, however, are readily available for unhoused youth in need. The organization is currently raising funds of about $250,000 to complete the remaining rooms downstairs. Meanwhile, the rooms upstairs as well as the common areas are open. "It was really important to us to pick the décor because we wanted it to feel like home. We wanted it to be bright, we wanted it to be airy," Acheson said. Restorative Pathways provides housing and resources for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Phoenix Rising Youth Home will provide housing for those between the ages of 12 and 18. "Our partner, West Coast Children's Clinic, have done quite a bit of research. And they are showing one in seven youth that walk through their doors is showing signs of exploitation. The trauma numbers are even higher. And as you know in Alameda County, homelessness is an epidemic here," she said. Oakland is in the top three cities nationwide for victims of child exploitation. Acheson said their partnerships with local law enforcement, county and school district leaders is critical in taking unhoused youth off the streets and providing them with shelter. Restorative Pathways has two other shelters in Hayward. As for this youth home in Oakland, there will be 24/7 staffing at the home with case managers, therapists, peer advocates and a shelter manager. Acheson added that there is no maximum length of stay and will be there to provide for the youth as long as they need. Lt. Marcos Campos of Oakland Police said his department, the child exploitation investigative unit, works on an average of 1,500 cases a year. "They average about 16 to 20 juveniles that are located on International Boulevard corridor. And those are the youth that we often refer to, previously known as Dream Catchers and now Phoenix Rising. And we hope to continue that partnership moving forward," Campos said. He added that without enough youth shelters in Oakland, his officers would often need to bring at-risk youth to San Francisco or further in the East Bay. But with this new youth home, just a couple blocks away from the Oakland Police Station, it's right at home. And staff like Justin Luke Riley, who once lived in a homeless shelter, will make sure that those who walk through those doors will be protected. "Roughly 18 years ago, I was in a homeless shelter. And was fortunate enough to receive services for substance use disorder, mental health," Luke Riley told CBS News Bay Area. "Restorative Pathways offers young individuals like me, when I was 19 years young, looking for a safe place, a healthy place and a place that was rich, full of resources." As for Acheson, her goal is to help the unhoused youth heal and build that trust to connect them with more permanent housing. "We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We will answer the door, we will bring you in, we will get you a bed to sleep in and help is there," Acheson said.
Jordan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Senate legal committee approves 2025 penal code draft amendments
The Senate Legal Committee, chaired by Senator Ahmad Tbeishat, on Sunday approves the 2025 Penal Code draft amendments submitted by the Lower House, endorsing the legislation without amendments (Petra photo) AMMAN — The Senate Legal Committee, chaired by Senator Ahmad Tbeishat, on Sunday approved the 2025 Penal Code draft amendments submitted by the Lower House, endorsing the legislation without amendments. The committee meeting was attended by Minister of Justice Bassam Talhouni, Minister of State for Legal Affairs Fayez Qudah, Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice Waleed Kanakrieh, Secretary General of the Judicial Council Ali Masimi, and Prosecutor General Hassan Abdallat, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. The proposed amendments seek to expand the application of non-custodial alternatives to imprisonment by enhancing judicial discretion and broadening eligibility criteria for such measures. They also empower the enforcement judge to collect court-ordered fines under the provisions of the Law on the Collection of Public Funds. Aligned with a broader shift toward restorative justice, the amendments aim to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, reduce repeat offences, and alleviate pressure on correctional facilities. Key provisions include enabling the suspension of final court sentences and granting judges the authority to postpone or divide fine payments into instalments — steps intended to help reduce prison overcrowding and improve access to justice.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mobile cafe for youth offenders opens its doors
A Swindon charity has opened a mobile cafe where young offenders can become baristas in an attempt to prevent reoffending. SMASH youth project mentors children and young people and has partnered with Swindon Borough Council and the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner's office to set up the scheme. Those involved have been selected for "restorative interventions", which is an alternative to being formally sentenced. The cafe, named Solid Ground, is on the council's Civic Campus and is open to the public every Wednesday and Thursday from 10am until 3pm. One of the young people involved in the project said it had made a major difference in their outlook. "Since starting at the van, I have gained confidence in myself and become more confident and tolerant of others, as well as gaining customer service skills," they said. "I feel I have more hope and plans for the future now and I am starting to learn how to budget and plan better with the money I earn. I am grateful for the training opportunities." The opening of the mobile cafe was attended by the leader of Swindon Borough Council Jim Robbins and Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson pointed to the scheme as an example of what could be achieved by young people from difficult backgrounds. "We are constantly looking for initiatives which give young people the opportunity to move out of the clutches of the organised crime groups which want to drag them down into the world of drugs and criminality," he said. "Through funding the coffee van and working with an organisation like SMASH, we're able to provide them with the confidence and skills to give them the opportunity to find meaningful employment." Lead for innovation and collaboration at SMASH, Rowan Kikke, said it was crucial for schemes like this to give young people an outlet. "We're really keen to work with young people in a way that develops their employability skills and getting them into independence and we didn't have a way of doing that," she said. "About two years ago the youth justice service approached us and said they had this old chip van and asked could we do anything with it that would create a space for young people. "It takes time to garner trust, but they are ready to learn the skills to be a positive presence in the community." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Teens at risk of criminality given gym membership Youth justice service 'a credit to the town' SMASH Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Swindon Borough Council
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Mobile cafe for youth offenders opens in Swindon
A Swindon charity has opened a mobile cafe where young offenders can become baristas in an attempt to prevent youth project mentors children and young people and has partnered with Swindon Borough Council and the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner's office to set up the involved have been selected for "restorative interventions", which is an alternative to being formally cafe, named Solid Ground, is on the council's Civic Campus and is open to the public every Wednesday and Thursday from 10am until 3pm. 'Gained confidence' One of the young people involved in the project said it had made a major difference in their outlook."Since starting at the van, I have gained confidence in myself and become more confident and tolerant of others, as well as gaining customer service skills," they said."I feel I have more hope and plans for the future now and I am starting to learn how to budget and plan better with the money I earn. I am grateful for the training opportunities."The opening of the mobile cafe was attended by the leader of Swindon Borough Council Jim Robbins and Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson pointed to the scheme as an example of what could be achieved by young people from difficult backgrounds."We are constantly looking for initiatives which give young people the opportunity to move out of the clutches of the organised crime groups which want to drag them down into the world of drugs and criminality," he said."Through funding the coffee van and working with an organisation like SMASH, we're able to provide them with the confidence and skills to give them the opportunity to find meaningful employment." Lead for innovation and collaboration at SMASH, Rowan Kikke, said it was crucial for schemes like this to give young people an outlet."We're really keen to work with young people in a way that develops their employability skills and getting them into independence and we didn't have a way of doing that," she said."About two years ago the youth justice service approached us and said they had this old chip van and asked could we do anything with it that would create a space for young people."It takes time to garner trust, but they are ready to learn the skills to be a positive presence in the community."
