Philadelphia has taken a significant step towards transforming its approach to juvenile crime with the launch of the Healing Futures program, marking the city’s first youth restorative justice initiative.
Operated by the Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project (YASP) in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, Healing Futures offers a community-centered alternative to the court system for young offenders.
Instead of facing traditional punitive measures, participating youth engage in a restorative process that encourages accountability and healing, often involving face-to-face meetings with their victims.
The program, which began in 2021, has now been reviewed in a comprehensive 78-page report that reveals promising outcomes since its inception.
Among the key findings, the report indicates that of the 30 youth enrolled in the program, only one has been subsequently found guilty of a crime, while two others were arrested.
Moreover, the feedback from both participants and victims has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% expressing satisfaction with their experiences in the initiative.
Hanae Victoria Mason, the author of the assessment and a fellow at YASP, emphasized the program’s unique approach.
“While the traditional system often focuses on punishment, which can deepen cycles of harm, Healing Futures creates a space for genuine accountability, healing for everyone involved, and a real chance for young people to build a different future,” she stated.
The program’s design aims to enroll youth before they face formal charges; however, some participants may have pending cases.
Upon completing the multi-stage program, charges against participants are often declined or withdrawn.
As part of the initial phase, young participants attend weekly sessions lasting from eight weeks to several months.
During these sessions, they engage in creative writing and self-reflection tasks and eventually draft an apology letter, which helps them learn how to express remorse effectively.
One participant, Autumn, shared her experience, stating, “Really understanding how to write an apology without sounding defensive is really a good skill to learn. And that wasn’t a skill I learned before. So at that time it was very difficult.”
When victims agree to partake in the process, a Restorative Community Conference is organized, where the youth’s family and community members gather to discuss the impact of the crime.
In these conferences, the young person reads their apology, and together they create a restorative plan that may involve restitution, community service, or internships.
Survey results indicated that 97% of both youth and victims felt the process was healing, and every victim affirmed they would recommend it to others in similar situations.
Victims expressed a desire to understand the reasons behind the offenders’ actions and share the personal impact of their crimes.
Christopher, a victim whose experience is highlighted in the report, remarked on the program’s effectiveness, stating that participating in Healing Futures was “a lot more rewarding” than the customary criminal justice approach.
Christopher’s car was stolen, and while two of the four suspects engaged in the restorative justice initiative, the others faced a court trial.
The Healing Futures program primarily handles cases involving felonies or first-degree misdemeanors that would typically lead to incarceration or probation.
However, cases where juveniles maintain their innocence are predominantly excluded from the program.
Most referrals to Healing Futures arise from charges related to automobile theft or assault.
Despite the program’s scope, incidents like arson, carjackings, sexual assault, and gun offenses are typically overlooked.
According to the report’s findings, YASP advocates for expanding restorative justice to encompass these more serious allegations.
They are urging the District Attorney’s Office to consider its first case involving a low-level gun charge as a preliminary step toward including serious offenses in restorative justice frameworks.
Representatives from the DAO did not immediately respond to inquiries concerning this proposed expansion.
Jody Dodd, a restorative justice facilitator at the DAO, praised Healing Futures, highlighting its human-centered approach that fosters accountability and meaningful reparations for those affected.
“We are grateful for this partnership, and we look forward to continuing to create better outcomes for all of those impacted by crime and the justice system,” Dodd stated.
In light of the report’s findings, YASP also emphasizes the need for support from private donors and philanthropic organizations to sustain and expand restorative justice initiatives.
Sarah Morris, the director of YASP, asserted, “This report provides a clear mandate: when we invest in community-led, healing-centered approaches, we get better outcomes for everyone.”
She called upon city leaders and justice partners to collaborate in broadening the availability of this transformative model in Philadelphia and beyond.
image source from：metrophiladelphia
