Crime Victims Rights in Clay County by Clare Ryan, YIPA’s Promise Fellow

It was an eventful and lovely two days at the Clay County Crime Victims Symposium in Moorhead this week! Over 120 youth workers, police officers, attorneys, social workers and others came from across Minnesota and North Dakota. Over the course of the two days we learned about preventing sexual violence, restorative justice, sexting, stalking, and the effects of family violence on children. On Tuesday evening 250 community members from Fargo/Moorhead came to hear Jackson Katz present on images of masculinity in the media and the ways in which gender violence is not just a “women’s issue.”

250 community members listen to Jackson Katz talk about gender violence

I was lucky enough to be able to sit in on some of the sessions. Both reinforced my belief that Minnesota is a special place for young people. Several speakers from other states noted that, “Minnesota has been at the front of this for years,” or “Many of my colleagues working on these issues are in Minnesota.” These issues include restorative justice for juveniles and working with young men to prevent violence and sexual abuse.

As a relative newcomer to youth intervention, I found the restorative justice breakout session very informative. Speakers from the Clay County restorative justice unit and from Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota explained how restorative justice is about bringing people together to help heal relationships that have been damaged by a crime. Restorative justice advocates claims that the person who has committed the offense has an obligation to help heal their relationship to the victim and to the community. They showed how successful it has been for some young people who have committed offenses to meet face to face with the victim and learn the bigger story about how that person has been affected by the crime. Learning, for example, how slashing a person’s tires prevented that person from bringing their children to school or getting an elderly family member to the doctor, has helped a young person realize the true impact of their actions. There are many facts and figures to back up the claim that restorative justice keeps young people from re-offending. For more information on restorative justice.

Jackson Katz signs a copy of his book, "The Macho Paradox"

It was amazing on Tuesday evening how many community members from Fargo/ Moorhead came out to hear Jackson Katz talk about gender violence. There was a mix of college students, coaches, teachers, parents and young people. Jackson’s provocative presentation, which challenged some very deep cultural beliefs about young boys and men, was very well received. People talked about how the media teaches young men to be “macho” and gain control – especially over women. As Jackson said, “This kind of violence is usually about maintaining control over inequality. In communities with gender equality, there is less violence because no one is trying to maintain an unequal relationship.” We also discussed how men need to be deeply involved in preventing gender violence, because true prevention requires a culture that condemns violence, not one that simply teaches women to avoid risk. For more on ways men can be involved in the prevention of gender violence.

Did any of you attend this conference? Anyone participate in a restorative justice program? Have a comment about what young men can do to prevent gender violence?

Even if you did not attend - LEAVE A COMMENT AND WIN A FREE COPY OF JACKSON KATZ’S BOOK!!!!!

We will randomly select one comment to win a free copy of “The Macho Paradox” by Jackson Katz. Retail value $18.99.