2017 Annual Report

Hawai‘i Friends of Restorative Justice (HFRJ) continued to provide programs to help improve the justice system by giving individuals the opportunity to engage in civic processes to address healing and reconciliation when social injustice and wrongdoing occurs. HFRJ continued researching, writing and publishing about its projects in order to contribute to best practices and evidence based knowledge about what can help increase civic engagement and healing for individuals and communities.

MAIN GOALS FOR 2017 WERE:
1. Continue Family Law Clinic at Hawai’i Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC)
2. Provide Reentry Circle Facilitator training in Brazil
3. Develop Reentry Guidebook with Roots & Rebound http://www.rootandrebound.org/

GOALS COMPLETED & PROGRAMS PROVIDED:

1. Family Law Clinic Hawai’i state Women’s Prison: In 2017, 17 law clinics, for 4 -5 hours per clinic, were provided by an experienced family court lawyer who assisted 161 women with their family law needs. The family law clinic has been provided at the women’s prison since 2012 when we discovered, through providing the reentry planning circles, the need for family law assistance. Since then hundreds of women have been assisted in making legal arrangements for their children, obtaining divorces, powers of attorney, etc. Dawn Slaten, Esq., who administers this program, received a 2017 pro bono award from the Hawai‘i State Bar Association for this and other restorative work she generously gives.

2. Reentry Circle Facilitator Trainings: Provided in August for five days in Porto Allegre, Brazil, which 39 people who work in prisons, for the courts, with non-profit agencies, completed; and a two-day training was provided in October that 18 participants including a social worker from Bermuda, and seven federal court probation and pretrial officers, completed at Ali’iolani Hale, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.

3. Online Reentry Guidebook: Provides free online legal and resource information for people leaving incarceration, and their families and friends who may want to assist them, who will live in Hawai‘i. The guidebook is modeled after the one that Root & Rebound developed for people in California http://www.rootandrebound.org/roadmap-to-reentry-guide, and they kindly assisted us in preparing ours. The guidebook was completely developed with pro bono efforts. We plan to publish it on line by early January 2018. The guidebook has information about practical ways to meet reentry needs in Hawai‘i. We will amend and revise it with new information throughout the year. We will also invite other reentry providers to submit information.

4. Community Talking Circles about Race: After our successful 2016 community talking circle about justice in Hawai’i with Dr. Angela Davis, we hosted two more community circles at Ali‘iolani Hale, our state supreme court. We collaborated with the judiciary Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution to provide the circles. Hawai’i chief justice Mark Recktenwald opened both circles with inspiring talks. Participants included formerly imprisoned people, judges, students, professors, and people who work with non-profit organizations. Reports on both circles are attached here.

5. Reentry Planning Circle Projects:

State Reentry Circles: Called huikahi in Hawai‘i, this reentry and transition planning process gives the incarcerated, paroled, and individuals on probation, the opportunity to make amends with harmed loved ones and a develop a plan for their future. The plans usually address substance abuse and how the individual will stay clean and sober in the future. A paper describing the process can be found at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2666828). In 2017 we provided seven circles in Hawai‘i and two in Brazil that a total 48 people participated in. Participants continue to report 100% satisfaction with the circle process. We also worked with professor Janet Davidson on a paper that will be published in 2018 on circle participants’ reduced recidivism (below under publications).

Modified Reentry Circle: Process for incarcerated individuals except they meet with other incarcerated supporters instead of family to develop a plan for making amends and for their future (see: http://lorennwalker.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/YoureGonnaMakeit.pdf). Only four modified circles were provided in 2017. These circles were developed in our former cognitive course provided in prison, which up to 25 people would take a semester. We revised it and only 5 – 10 participants are in the course now (see below Solution-Focused Mediation and Restorative Facilitation Training).

Honolulu Federal Court Circle Pilot Program: Pilot began in 2015 to provide jailed individuals prior to sentencing the opportunity to make amends with loved ones and a plan for their future, including how to face mandatory federal prison terms on the US continent. The federal pilot project was expanded to post-sentencing cases, and to people on federal probation.

6. Solution-Focused Mediation and Restorative Facilitation Training: We are halfway through our second year of this skill intensive training program at the Hawai‘i state women’s prison. The course runs from August through March (with several breaks in between). In 2016 the course was re-designed into a skill based 19-week (2 hrs a meeting 1x a week) course teaching solution-focused mediation and restorative facilitation practices to imprisoned women. Our previous cognitive course was evaluated and shown not to decrease recidivism. Professor Davidson and I plan to write a paper on this finding.

Course requirements & stipends provided: A high school diploma, GED, or working on them, are required to enroll in the course. We also obtained the prison’s permission to provide stipends to course participants of twenty five cents an hour (about $10 for the entire course and one must finish half of the course to receive any stipend). The prison only allowed this amount of stipends and we are hoping to increase and eventually provide $1 an hour stipends. The course requires a lot of reading, engaging in exercises and activities including learning mindfulness of one’s emotions, behaviors and thoughts.

Outcomes to date on course: At end of our first course in 2017, four women completed it, and another six participated (but missed too many classes to complete). In December 2017 we finished the first half of the second course. There are seven women who seem likely to complete it by March 2018. There were more in the class initially but some participants were transferred to other jails/prisons, released on parole, or had disciplinary problems with the prison and could not continue the course. We plan to write and publish a workbook on this training program for others in replicating this it at other institutions. People frequently contact us about our work and how to apply the processes that we develop.

7. 9th Annual Parolee Completion Celebration: Was held October 4, 2017. It was as always, a lovely and inspiring event with those completing parole and those who assisted them being honored and congratulated for their hard work. Hawai‘i Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald and Chief Justice Moon before him, have opened the circle portion of the event since we began it almost ten years ago. At the December 2017 community circle on race, which Chief Justice Recktenwald opened too, he said that this parole celebration is one of the “most inspiring” things he engages in. This year we also awarded the following for their extra hard efforts to help people on parole:

Chief Justice & Roger Epstein, Vice President of Hawai’i Friends presented the following awards: Daphne Hookano, Program Director, Beacon of Hope House (and new HFRJ board member) Restorative Justice Community Reentry Award: Since 2010, after being released from prison, Daphne earned a certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling (CSAC). She went on to UH Manoa and received a bachelor’s degree in social work last spring. She is currently in the Master’s of Social Work program at UH Manao and will be graduating this coming spring. Besides being a full time student, Daphne works as program director for Kailua United Methodist Church’s outreach program: Beacon of Hope House that was created in 2013. She, Reverend Samuel Cox, and Warden Mark Patterson had a vision of helping women with continued support as they transitioned to the community from prison and furlough programs. She was originally scheduled to be discharged from parole this year, but because of her many accomplishments, and helping other women, she was granted early parole in 2013.

De MONT R.D. Conner, Director, Ho`omana Pono, LLC
Restorative Justice Community Reentry Award: De MONT is a long time civil rights activist from the Waiana’e Coast. He learned paralegal skills in prison that he put to use helping fellow inmates. He litigated many cases including Connor v. Sakai that is one of the only two cases litigated by imprisoned people pro se from Hawai’i that went to the United States Supreme Court. De MONT was released from prison finally in 2011 after he never gave up litigating his right to parole. He has continued to be an unfailing and consistent voice for the oppressed. In 2014 he started Ho’omana Pono, LLC, to help Native Hawaiians. De MONT is a testament to the potential for anyone to improve their lives, and the fallacy of judging people by their worst bad acts.

Chas Williams, Director, WorkNet
Hawai’i Restorative Justice Community Support Award: Chas founded and directs the non-profit WorkNet, Inc., which provides incarcerated people with job skills, and help in the community finding and keeping employment. Since 1989 he’s worked to ensure everyone leaving prison has housing, treatment, and jobs to stay crime free. Chas has seen countless people turn their lives around by being accountable for their behavior, and not giving up on learning new skills. Failures are opportunities to learn when we keep trying. Chas’s faith in human potential is enduring and focuses on everyone’s strengths, not their deficits.

Kevin Rego, Hawai’i State Parole Officer
Russ Takaki Restorative State Parole Officer Award: Kevin has dedicated himself to public service for 27 years. He is a seasoned supervisor and has served as Acting Field Parole Branch Administrator overseeing approximately 1500 parole clients throughout the state. His leadership skills have allowed his staff reach their potential and strive for excellence. As Russ Takaki did in the 60’s and 70’s, Kevin, through hard work, helps people stay crime free. His belief that anything is possible with dedication and hard work, has been mirrored through the state parole office. He is deeply respected by parole staff, law enforcement, current and past parolees. He is a true asset to the parole officer profession and our community.

Allison Thom, U.S. Pretrial Services Officer
Russ Takaki Restorative Federal Pretrial Officer Award: Alison has helped people change their lives for over 20 years both as a Hawai’i State Parole Officer and currently as a Federal Pretrial Services Officer. She has helped thousands overcome drug addiction, obtain employment, reconnect with their families, and find mental health, housing, and other services. Alison always goes over and above on behalf of her clients, and is a role model to her colleagues. She believes in justice and treating all people with dignity and respect. She believes that anyone can change if given encouragement, resources, and the opportunity.

Merton Chinen, Director, State of Hawai’i Office of Youth Services Restorative Justice Support for Youth & Families:
Merton, fondly called Mert by his friends, is a 1975 graduate of Farrington High School. He’s held numerous positions during his 34 year career helping disadvantaged people, including those in prison and those with imprisoned loved ones. He started working as state as a child protection social worker, over 25 years and learned early that every individual has the capacity to find a positive life with support and care. Merton is passionate about addressing suffering and grief, and integrating forgiveness into his work and life. He is a co-founder of Hawai‘i International Forgiveness Day.

William Domingo, Hawai’i District Court Judge Award for Judicial Innovation & Restorative Approach: Judge Domingo has been a tireless legal advocate for those who lack a voice and the skills to represent themselves for over 32 years. He is a 1974 Farrington High School graduate who served as a deputy attorney general representing the rights of children and families in state child protection cases, and as a deputy public defender for both the state and federal government, representing indigent clients in criminal cases. He was in private practice when he was appointed to the judiciary in 2015. Since 2016, he has been the HOPE judge, presiding over the alternative court that Steve Alm developed to supervise state probationers. Judge Domingo is a kindhearted and uplifting person. He helps HOPE clients be personally accountable with a reasoned and compassionate view. Both probations, and the people he works with too, deeply value him.

8. Independent Evaluation of Circle Program on Individual’s Recidivism Rates: Dr.Janet Davidson chairperson of the criminal justice department at Chaminade University of Honolulu evaluated our reentry circles for recidivism rates. Our control group were people who applied for circles did not have one, mainly due to their leaving prison before we could provide them with a circle. Her brief report on the evaluation is supra pages 7 and 8. She and the ED will prepare a paper on the evaluation to be published early 2018.

9. Work to diminish incarceration & promote rehabilitation and healing: We have been active in supporting research and presenting to inform the public on the effects of incarceration and advocating for education and rehabilitation. We are an active member of the newly formed Hawai‘i Justice Coalition www.Hijustice.org.

University of Hawai‘i intern assistance from Social Work School—we have an excellent intern this academic year 2017- 2018 who helps us with about 20 hours of work a week.

Academic Publications:

The following papers were published or are in press as of December 2017 and were not mentioned in HFRJ’s 2016 annual report: Walker, L. & Davidson, J., (in press) Restorative justice reentry planning for the imprisoned: An evidence-based approach to recidivism reduction, In Gavrielides, T., (Ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Restorative Justice (2018). The Routledge International: London.

Walker, L., Tarutani, C. & Furman, B., (in press) The Power of Restorative Apologies (Real and Imagined) for Victims & Offenders, Temida.

Walker, 2017. Restorative Justice & Race Inequality, Hawai‘i, USA. In T. Gavrielides, 25 Restorative Justice case studies, RJ4ALL Publications: London

ED wrote op-ed for local Honolulu newspaper Walker, (Sept. 12, 2017) At-Risk Youth Need Support, Not Segregation. Star Advertiser (http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/09/12/editorial/island-voices/at-risk-youth-need-support-not-segregation/)

Overall impact on the Community

Our continued minimal funding and administrative overhead (less than $5000 annually) assisted in serving many to improve the justice system.

 

HFRJ Goals for 2018:

1. By January put online HFRJ’s Hawai’i reentry resources & legal guide that is modeled after Roots & Rebound’s California guidebook https://objects-us-west-1.dream.io/roadmapguide/RoadmapGuide-2017.pdf which they helped us prepare and we’ve been working on for over 18 months

2. Obtain funding for organizational administrative support to help lead it to sustainability. Obtain at least $25K funding for state women’s prison (WCCC) reentry circles including for special needs, e.g., dentures, family transportation from neighbor islands. Have 3 new competent facilitators trained and capable of providing reentry circles by March 2018

3. Advocate for education and rehabilitation and no new jail or prison construction by state of Hawai’i and against any “public private partnerships” to build them

4. Continue family law clinic at WCCC

5. Complete 12 more months of the federal pilot by December 2018 that includes probationers. Collect data with Janet Davidson, PhD (federal pilot project ends August 2019)

6. Write article with Janet Davidson on cognitive course research that showed the course was no more successful than prison for preventing repeat crime of former class participants

7. Finish teen court article draft and submit to journal by May 2018 with 4 co-authors on how they are not restorative and can be transformed into truly restorative programs (one co-author redesigned a teen court program she headed for about 10 years and made it restorative)

8. Write a guidebook on our current solution-focused mediation and restorative facilitation course for institutionalized individuals and finish first draft September and publish by December 2018

9. Provide 3rd class at women’s prison on mediation and facilitation beginning September 2018 to end March 2019

10. Explore the possibility of HFRJ hosting restorative justice conference in Honolulu or somewhere on O’ahu in February 2019. If yes, send save the date notices by June

11. Find and collaborate with a public school(s) to provide RJ philosophy and practices (have met with one principle of an interested Honolulu elementary school)– also provide violence prevention through literacy and service project with a secondary Honolulu school

12. Consider and explore possibility of providing online course how to provide and facilitate reentry circles, e.g. https://learn.gratefulness.org/

2017 expenditures and income:

Overall income of $65,227.08 (includes grant for a two year project) and expenses of $40,037.32. Our overhead remains less than $6000 annually with 75% of our income going to services and materials for program participants

Respectfully Submitted
Lorenn Walker
Volunteer Executive Director
Hawai’i Friends of Restorative Justice          Date: December 28, 2017

2017 Board of Directors:

Richard Turbin, Esq., President – Rich is the founder and President of the law firm Turbin Chu where he practices in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and malpractice in Honolulu, Hawai’i. He received his BA, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his JD from Harvard Law School. Mr. Turbin served as the 2005 President of the Hawai’i State Bar Association, and was elected to the National Council of Bar Presidents of the American Bar Association (ABA); Chair of the ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section; elected President of Consumer Lawyers 2002 – 2003; Civil Rights Commissioner for Hawai’i 2002 – 2006; Traphagen Distinguished Alumni speaker at Harvard Law School 2004; received Pursuit of Justice Award of the ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section 2006; has taught numerous courses and written articles for ABA & a text book; served as Chair of Waialae Kahala Neighborhood Board 1994 – 2004; member MADD and Alliance Francaise of Hawai’i.

Roger Epstein, Esq., Vice President – Roger is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School. He has a private legal practice in Honolulu and retired from Cades Schutte, in Honolulu after 30 years. He’s a cofounder of the Hawai‘i Forgiveness Project (http://www.hawaiiforgivenessproject.org) and is dedicated to improving our community.

Madonna Castro Perez, Secretary – Madonna works at the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i (LASH) in the Fair Housing unit as a Civil Rights Advocate. Prior to working at LASH, Madonna interned in Washington, D.C. at the American Legislative Exchange council and doubled majored in Political Science and History. Shortly after, she moved to Hawai‘i for graduate school and received her Masters in Pacific Islands Studies. A passion to serve others, she volunteers at random places and events. From holding a sign for three hours on the side of the road in Hawai‘i Kai to waking up at 5:30 am to count whales; there is always something interesting that she helps out with. In her spare time, she likes watching Korean dramas, eating delicious food with friends, running, and documenting her cooking and eating adventures on thenosyfoodcritic.blogspot.com

Lisa Jensen, Treasurer – Lisa is a long time educator with a masters degree from the University of Hawai‘i in education who does peacemaking work with students. She has spent time working in Guam and has a special interest in helping disenfranchised groups including Micronesians who have suffered discrimination in Hawai‘i. Currently, she is assisting an elementary school in Kalihi with conflict management and is seeking a secondary school where we can provide our violence prevention through literacy and service program.

Svitlana Pronina Campbell – Svitlana is a teacher and lawyer born in the Ukraine, who settled in Honolulu in 1999. Svitlana graduated from the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law with both J.D. and LL.M. degrees concentrating on international and business law matters. She has taught mandatory classes on basics of Preventative Law in Ukraine high schools, offered classes on drug and crime prevention, and hosted a legal radio program in her home country. She is a passionate supporter of education and preventative law in Hawai‘i.

Kellen Kashiwa, OD – Dr. Kellen Kashiwa is a low-vision specialist. As a licensed doctor of optometry, he is trained in the examination and management of patients with visual impairments that cannot be corrected with pharmaceutical or surgical interventions, conventional prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Born and raised in Hawaii, Dr. Kashiwa earned his Doctor of Optometry Degree from Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon, where he concentrated in low vision and retinal disease. He previously served as a technician and diagnostic photographer at the Retina Institute of Hawaii from 2008 to 2009. Dr. Kashiwa completed internships in Japan and China, and has seen over 3,000 patients doing optometric humanitarian work in the Philippines, Peru, and Nicaragua.

Ian Crabbe – Ian grew up in Pearl City, played football for Foothill College in California. He is a Hawai’i licensed electrician. He is very proud of his only child, who works in forensics for the FBI. Ian had one of the first restorative reentry circles in 2005 at Waiawa Correctional Facility where he was imprisoned for drug related offenses. He spent three years in prison with little family contact. The circle enabled him to make amends and rebuild relationships with his family. He became his father’s caregiver before passing away. In 2014, Governor Neil Abercrombie pardoned Ian’s criminal convictions. Ian has been an important supporter for Hawai’i Friends of Restorative Justice for over ten years.

Daphne Ho’okano – Daphne was released from prison in 2010. She earned a certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling and later attended the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2017. She will complete the Master’s of Social Work program at UH Manoa in May 2018. Besides being a full time student, Daphne works as program director for Kailua United Methodist Church’s outreach program. Daphne, Reverend Samuel Cox, and Mark Patterson developed the Beacon of Hope House to support women transitioning to the community from prison and furlough programs.

Lorenn Walker, Volunteer Executive Director (ED) – public health educator and restorative lawyer (www.lorennwalker.com) who develops, implements, researches and publishes the results of social learning processes using restorative justice and solution-focused approaches. Lorenn is a Senior Fulbright Specialist for international peacemaking training. She first became involved with Hawai’i Friends in 1994 when she was the mock trial attorney coach for Waialua High School and was working as trial lawyer for the state of Hawai’i attorney general’s office. Since then Hawai’i Friends has changed its name and has shifted its focused from law related education, e.g. mock trial, to more of a public health approach using restorative justice. Lorenn donates her ED time to the Hawai’i Friends and receives minimal compensation (basically stipends) from grants and donations for her other work providing the programs we develop and provide.