Benefits of Circles in Rural Minnesota |TODAY|

Submitted by dan. on 2007-09-21 22:34.
Community Action | Crime Prevention | Offender Support | Victim Support

Yellow Medicine County is expanding a restorative justice program that brings together juvenile offenders and community members in an effort to resolve issues outside of the courtroom. Circle sentencing, one of many types of restorative justice, brings together community members, victims and offenders to talk through problems and help offenders find the right path.

Yellow Medicine County started the program in 2001 but recently expanded it with the addition of a county employee to oversee it.

Julie Marthaler has been working with the county as a volunteer in restorative justice. She recently took on the position as the coordinator for the program because, she said, she believes circle sentencing is an important way to keep kids on the right track....

According to an impact statement from Marthaler, Yellow Medicine County has seen a decrease in out-of-home placement costs “due in part to the increasing use of circle.”

In addition to saving the county money, Gingles said the volunteers in the program want to maintain the experience of living in a small town.

“Canby and most of these towns in southwest Minnesota are pretty crime-free,” said Gingles. “We’re trying to keep it that way, and yet we want people that do violate to be held accountable.”

Marthaler credits the volunteers for the success of the program. She said it’s the community that makes it happen.

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