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Huikahi Restorative Circles: A Public Health Approach for Reentry Planning

NCJ Number
231588
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 74 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 43-47
Author(s)
Lorenn Walker; Rebecca Greening
Date Published
June 2010
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper addresses the use of the Hawaiian Huikahi Circle as a tool for restorative process.
Abstract
Results suggest that the Huikahi Circles provide a process for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones to find ways to heal from the harm created by crime and imprisonment. The circle gives all parties an opportunity to give voice to their own experience while collaborating with the incarcerated individual to create a plan that meets his or her needs for a successful transition back into the community. Even when the incarcerated person is reincarcerated after a Circle, the positive outcomes for families remain significant. In addition to the need for reconciliation, developing and maintaining a support system, locating and keeping housing, and maintaining physical and emotional health are basic needs that must be addressed, along with staying clean and sober. Meeting these basic needs has been shown to effectively stop the continual reincarceration cycle for a significant number of formerly incarcerated people. Figures and references