VORP - India

The Restorative Justice Project and Project Trust in India, 2012

The National Law Universities of India

The Fulbright Commission, Council for the International Exchange of Scholars,

United States Department of State

The International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred.org)

Overview of the Restorative Justice Project and Project Trust

The Restorative Justice Project was first conceived as joint effort of the National Law Universities (NLU) of India, of which there are fourteen throughout India, and the U.S. Fulbright Commission, Council for the International Exchange of Scholars. Martin E. Price, J.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina was appointed as the Fulbright Senior Specialist to lead the Project. The Project arose from the recognition by leaders in Indian legal education and criminal law reform that Restorative Justice, a global movement with over 6,000 programs, is needed in India. There are currently no Restorative Justice programs in India. The Project begins officially on January 2, 2012 and will be from six to twelve months in duration, depending mostly upon funding.

The Restorative Justice Project in India

· Introduce Restorative Justice as a framework for Criminal Law Reform, Alternatives to Incarceration and Re-Examining the Death Penalty into the curricula and the culture of the National Law Universities and the criminal justice system in India.

· Teach culturally appropriate graduate and undergraduate courses and train faculty at as many of the NLUs as possible within the time frame of the Project.

· Present regional Restorative Justice Conferences at most, if not all, of the NLUs, inviting judges, prosecutors, the criminal law bar, corrections officials, counselors and other professionals in all fields concerned with criminal justice, crime victims, offenders, concerned community leaders and concerned community members

· Speak to the Legislatures and Judiciaries at the State and Federal levels (invited)

· Establish a nation-wide Restorative Justice movement with a network of active programs sponsored and supported by the NLUs, including Restorative Justice clinical programs in the NLUs

Overview of Project Trust

"Hurt people hurt other people." Most offenders have been victims at some time in their lives, often suffering from undiagnosed depression and often leading to self-destructive behavior including criminal acts. Crimes from the least severe to the most heinous have broad impacts for victims, their loved ones, friends, neighbors and community. These commonly include a loss of trust in their safety and security. Not surprisingly, depression is one of the most common reactions to victimization.

Urban India is in the process of adopting Western lifestyles that include high-tech industrialization, excessive working hours, oppressive working conditions and a high level of materialism. Not surprisingly, depression is becoming widespread in urban India.

Educate about depression and about the relationship between depression, trust, criminal behavior and victimization as an essential component of the activities of the Restorative Justice Project in India

Distribute iFred brochures and Project Trust brochures; refer to www.iFred.org for additional information about depression and about Project Trust

Getting the word out

Blog postings and Facebook postings about the events of the trip and the Projects, sharing learning, personal growth experiences and cultural awakenings about India and the people of India, particularly as related to the Projects

Posting of photo-essays about Life, Justice, Injustice, and Transformation in India

Need for Additional Funding

The organizational sponsors of these Projects have provided substantial funding, but not enough to cover all of the expenses of the first six months. The second six months are still waiting to be funded. If you feel so moved, please make a contribution through the "Donate Now" link on the www.VORP.com home page or contact Marty Price, martyprice@vorp.com, to learn about specific ways that your contribution can support these transformational Projects and make a difference not only in India, but in the world.

The links to the four 15-minute segments of a one-hour online radio interview about Restorative Justice and the Project in India:

Segments:

1: http://filesource.abacast.com/wsradio/thedougnollshow/102711/segment1102711.mp3

2: http://filesource.abacast.com/wsradio/thedougnollshow/102711/segment2102711.mp3

3: http://filesource.abacast.com/wsradio/thedougnollshow/102711/segment3102711.mp3

4: http://filesource.abacast.com/wsradio/thedougnollshow/102711/segment4102711.mp3

Blogs from India:
Restorative Justice Project in India: Life, Justice, Injustice and Transformation

Depression, Crime and Restorative Justice in India