(Cissy's note: I've known this professor, Alissa Ackerman, for a few years and she's stretched my thinking on restorative justice, sex offender research, and policy and survivor-led advocacy. It's nice to see her work covered more often and more widely).
The following is an excerpt published on the California State University, Fullerton website today.
Ackerman, who has written extensively on sex offender policy and practice, believes current policies do little to help rehabilitate people who have offended and to help people who have experienced sexual violence.
"Our policies are very reactionary; they don't really do anything to prevent these crimes from happening and they take the person who's been harmed right out of the equation," said Ackerman.
She is a proponent of restorative justice, a framework that focuses on the harm caused by sexual abuse, harassment or violence rather than the criminal statute. "No matter what somebody has done, no matter what somebody has experienced, their voice is important in understanding why it happens and what survivors need," said Ackerman.
To illustrate this point, Ackerman invites Tom Stranger, who is based in Australia, to speak to her class via video chat. Through an eight-year process of restorative justice, Stranger took full responsibility for the rape of a former girlfriend. The pair have since delivered a TED Talkon "Our Story of Rape and Reconciliation" that has garnered more than 4.5 million views and co-authored a book called "South of Forgiveness."
"This is an issue that's occurring behind many closed doors, deep in shame and stigma," explained Stranger. "I wanted to put it out there in hopes that it would resonate with people — certainly understanding that it was not going to be received well by many and also understanding that it might allow some to consider the idea that you can take ownership and it can be a powerful step."
Through her research and time spent with 375 men and women who have committed acts of sexual harm, Ackerman explains that the emotions they feel about their actions and the emotions survivors feel about what has been done to them are almost identical.
"Oftentimes you will hear survivors talk about drug and alcohol use and abuse, anxiety and depression, feelings of shame and guilt, self-harm — those are almost identical to what you hear from people who have caused harm, when they realize they have caused harm.
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