The Restorative Justice Model, upon which the Bridges To Life program is based, emphasizes the importance of the involvement of victims, offenders and the community in the criminal justice system. In this way, victims are involved in the process, giving them a chance to “tell their story”, which, in turn, encourages the offender to accept responsibility and cease to commit further crimes.
The Bridges To Life program utilizes an intensive, 14-week process during which victim volunteers and offenders are brought together along with a facilitator. To meet the program’s objective of providing a safe environment for offender and victim, a small group format is utilized that emphasizes confidentiality and compassion. Elements of the small groups include prayer, tough questions, self-disclosure, and honest letters written by the inmates to their victims and to the inmates’ family members, who have also been victimized. Although these letters are not actually delivered to the actual crime victims, the act of writing to their victim and their family member has proven to be a powerful part of the curriculum. The inmates must admit their crime, tell their story of criminal activity and accept responsibility for their actions.
The curriculum used the Restoring Peace book and a Study Guide with 14 weekly meetings and homework lessons. The weekly topics are:
Week One: Orientation
Week Two: Getting Started
Week Three: Crime and Conflict
Week Four: Faith
Week Five: Stories
Week Six: Responsibility
Week Seven: Accountability
Week Eight: Confession
Week Nine: Repentance
Week Ten: Forgiveness
Week Eleven: Reconciliation
Week Twelve: Restitution
Week Thirteen: The Journey
Week Fourteen: Graduation
Restoring Peace – Using Lessons From Prison to Mend Broken Relationships details the principles used in the Bridges To Life program, combined with actual stories from victim and inmate participants. The book is intended for repairing or improving relationships with others.
“The first thing that victims must do is learn to live again. This program helps them to accept that change and learn to live and trust again.”
“The best part about this program is the small group setting which allows both victim and inmate to be open and honest with one another and the trust, confidence that is built through these groups.”