The concept is simple: Rather than having police, social workers, and courts telling people how to resolve conflicts, turn the conflict over to the community to examine and resolve. The Community Conferencing Center facilitates conferences that bring together those affected by crime and conflict--victims, perpetrators, and any other affected parties--and it helps them talk openly about how the various parties were hurt. The goal is to help the victim and the offender come to a mutual agreement about how to make up for the harm done--both to individuals and the community. Cynics may say this isn't an effective way to deal with criminal activity, but really, have our jails and overburdened court systems been effective?
