'Realizing that my shameful actions were wrong I want to tell the story of what happened the night the crime was committed.'
Restorative Justice letter
As part of the Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project, juvenile offenders are accountable for their actions and come face-to-face with victims of their crimes, who also have a voice in the process. For restorative justice organizers, the program links actions and consequences with juvenile offenders taking responsibility for their actions. The Lakes Area Restorative Justice Program points to studies that show such programs can be effective in reducing repeat offenses. As part of their process, juveniles involved in stealing an item from a vehicle, wrote a letter about their experience. The following is one such unedited letter:
One of the few things that I'll regret for the rest of my life is something that I could of easily decided not to do. This thing that greatly regret has hurt people in ways I never knew my actions could have caused. The thoughtless and foolish crime was the entering of a car, that wasn't mine and the theft of a mans heater that he had worked for and needed. Realizing that my shameful actions were wrong I want to tell the story of what happened the night the crime was committed. I also wanted to tell how apologetic I am and how much I regret doing such a mindless act.
That night myself and a couple friends were playing videogames and had gotten quite board of it. While board we decided to see if one of our friends was home. On our way had decide to walk up to some cars just for some kind of adrenaline rush or something to exited us. As we did this we had found a truck that was parked behind a garage in an alley way. I went up to the truck, opened the driver door and grabbed something I seen in the back seat. That thing was a buddy heater and not really wanting to steal anything I decided to throw it in the snow a little ways from the truck. It felt fun at the time but overall I should have known better. After this we decided to back to my friends house and go to bed. Later that night karma caught up to us and the police were knocking on my friends door. We didn't hear it but my friends father did and he came up stairs and woke us up. Once the heater was back in the hands of the rightful owner we had some explaining to do. We told our story to the officer and he broke down what was to happen next. He had given us the owner of the trucks number and address and we were told to apologize and meet him. I didn't get the chance to meet him but I still called and gave him my most sincere of an apology I could.
A while after this I was told that I was to meet with this guy and discuss with him every thing that had happened and discuss our feelings about what happened.
The consequences of my actions have been great and have effected more than one person. I have made this mans wife feel vulnerable in her own truck and have made her have to be on guard at all times. I have also lost a lot of trust with my parents that has made simple things more complicated than they have to be. I feel very stupid and ashamed of myself and wish that I will someday be forgive me. After this night of embarrassment I had learned my lesson and learned that it isn't right to abuse stuff that doesn't belong to you. I'm very glad that this man that I had violated and hurt had agreed to meet us and discuss what happened. In all I think that I will never do something this inconsiderate and foolish ever again.
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