Our Opinion: Restorative justice produces transformations

A "win-win situation" is how the Missouri Department of Corrections director describes a restorative justice gardening program.

Restorative justice, according to George Lombardi, provides "another opportunity for offenders to give back to communities and learn the issue of compassion for others, which so many of them either never had to begin with or lost because of trauma in their childhood."

Last year, inmates in the gardening program donated 91 tons of produce, including tomatoes, greens, okra, radishes and sweet potatoes. The gardening program is one of at least two dozen restorative justice initiatives operated by the Corrections agency. Participants in the gardening program include inmates from the state's 21 adult corrections facilities and seven community supervision centers.

Recipients of the produce include food pantries, domestic violence shelters, nursing homes and after-school programs throughout the state.

Among the recipients is after-school program operated by Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. "I'd say at least 25 families benefited from the produce for every delivery," said Brenda Robinson-Echols, the extension center's regional coordinator for the program. Deliveries this summer were coming "every couple of week and bringing loads of produce."

She added: "To have something tangible to give the families so they can incorporate fresh produce into their diet, and it doesn't cost them anything. That's the beauty of the program."

For the recipients - needy children and adults, as well as victims of domestic violence - fresh, nutritious produce is the a winning aspect of the program.

But the inmates who participate also win when they devote time and energy to a program that serves other people.

For people incarcerated because they victimized others, the restorative justice initiatives are designed to transform attitudes and behaviors in preparation for reintegrating inmates into communities.