Inmates in Restorative Justice Program Host Ceremony in Rmembrance of their Victims |PRISONS|

Submitted by dan. on 2007-05-01 21:54.
Prison

Throughout the ceremony, offenders spoke, sang, showed a video they made in conjunction with a victims family, performed a step-like routine and held a balloon release. They also stressed the week's theme, “Every Victim - Every Time,” and pledged “No more victims - no more pain.” As Kuhicsko and Cassidy sat listening to the words and watching the video, tears rolled down their cheeks, and for the first time Kuhicsko said she knows that these offenders know what they have done.

“I feel relieved - this was so amazing they put so much work into (helping) all of us see that they haven't forgotten either,” she said.

“This was really awesome I had no idea what to expect, but this was great,” Cassidy said, her arms full of plaques and pictures of Derrick, which were presented to them.

“This is a day we come together to secure the rights for the victims and their families. This is a day when we as offenders take responsibility for what we did, while we help you all remember your loved ones,” one offender said during the ceremony.

Feeling relieved, Kuhicsko and Cassidy smiled amid their tears as they released balloons, as they do every July 24 to honor their son and brother.

“I am really glad we came today,” Kuhicsko said. “It really is nice to see that the offenders get it too, and that they are doing this for the victims.”

Read it all.