PopTech : Blog : Lauren Abramson: Resolving conflict with a handshake, not handcuffs

Lauren Abramson: Resolving conflict with a handshake, not handcuffs

Emily Spivack ( Bio / Posts ) | Friday, October 22, 2010 UTC

As the founder of the Community Conferencing Center (CCC), Social Innovation Fellow Lauren Abramson works to alter how society typically responds to crime and conflict — changing the focus from punishment to accountability, healing, and learning.

Abramson shares a story about two kids in Baltimore who were arrested for stealing a car. Instead of heading to court, the CCC took the case. The kids and their families, along with the man whose car had been stolen, were brought together to discuss three points: 1) What happened? 2) How have you been affected by what happened? and 3) What do you want to do to make it better and prevent it from happening again?

One of the kids brought his grandfather, who had been raising him, to the reconciliatory meeting. He communicated to his grandson his disappointment at the young man’s behavior. Moved by this reaction, the man whose car was stolen expressed his desire to resolve the incident. The kid not only offered a genuine apology during the session, but also committed to pay the man’s insurance deductible. The kid’s grandfather hired them to work at his church for six weeks to earn the necessary money. All parties involved met again, exchanged handshakes, and the kids paid for the costs associated with the stolen car. In turn, the man then donated those funds back to the grandfather’s church.

This is one success story among the 8,000 people who have convened cases in Baltimore using the CCC, 95% of which have been resolved.

(Photo credit: Kris Krüg)

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