Georgia | Georgia Community Action and Linkages for Legal Socialization | 28 May 2014

On May 13-20, Georgia Community Action and Linkages for Legal Socialization was visited by the US experts: Amy Holloway, Director of Victims Service at Vermont Department of Correction and Kate Searles Brayton, Director of Essex Community Justice Center. In the framework of exchange program, training was held for mediators and social worker involved in Diversion and Mediation Program. Representatives of Crime Prevention center also attended the training. Aim of the three-day training was to improve professional skills of mediators, to share experience on restorative justice programs under the US correction system and successful models of Community Justice Centers in Vermont. During the training, participants discussed following subjects: • How a traditional criminal justice response and restorative practices can work together • The skills and the broad perspective required to manage all of the moving parts • The underlying complexity and the underlying damage caused by a seemingly low level crime • The special issues that arise for the directly and indirectly affected parties Training participants shared their experience with the US experts. All three days were highly interactive, theoretical sessions were followed by practical activities. Upon completion of the training participants were awarded respective certificates. On May 20, the US experts were invited to participate in workshop organized by Criminal Justice Reform Council, functioning under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Mrs. Hollooway and Mrs. Brayton shared experience regarding programs of victim services center at Vermont Department of Corrections and models of Community Justice Centers. Special interest was aroused by victim-offender dialogue in prison and mediation in case of domestic and sexual violence. The meeting was attended by the representatives of INL, Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, MoJ Training Center, local and international non-government organizations.