An encounter with the Evanston Police Department could get you a referral to court.
But it could also get you a referral to a social service agency, to try to get you out of whatever bad circumstances you might be in.
Chief Schenita Stewart told a virtual 8th Ward meeting Thursday evening that a group of EPD officers, members of a nationwide organization of reform-minded cops called New Blue, is putting together some potential modifications to the intake process once someone is picked up.
Stewart said, “It’s not just following up on a criminal matter.”
Stressing that participation by the arrestee is voluntary, the chief said information gathered by officers could find out that the individual needs food or housing.
The police could then be “working with nonprofits to direct people to social services.”
Clearly, this is not something for all charges, such as murder or violent assault.
But for some lesser offenses, it could be part of the concept of “restorative justice,” often used in schools but not in police situations.
According to the National Center for Restorative Justice, the concept focuses on “repair” rather than “punishment.”
The suspect and victim are brought together, where the offender must accept responsibility and engage in “voluntary dialogue” with the person who was wronged.
It’s important to point out that the victim must agree to take part in the restorative justice process or it will not take place.
Chief Stewart also said that the new four-year police contract, just approved by City Council, will help significantly in attracting more officers to Evanston.
EPD has been understaffed for several years (down 27 officers last summer), leading to service cutbacks.
A consultant’s report concluded that the pay for Evanston officers was below what police in similar departments were making elsewhere.
The new contract gives patrol officers a 27 percent raise over the length of the contract.
Stewart said the department is already bringing in several new officers, and the lure of higher pay certainly does not hurt.
“I compare us to the NCAA transfer portal,” said the chief, a former basketball player. “We can pick who we want.”
I applaud this initiative by EPD and believe it may be effective for some situations. My reality causes me to be somewhat skeptical however.
As a victim of an assault last year in downtown Evanston, my attacker was arrested for a class C misdemeanor and claimed to have mental illness, saying he was homeless and came to Evanston for the “homeless shelter”.
The arresting officer told me he was brought to Evanston Hospital and later released, refusing any assistance that was available.
He went on to commit a felony assault in Chicago months later. While attending the court proceeding for my assault, where he pled guilty, just seeing him on video gave me a very ill feeling.
I think it will be challenging to get victims to agree to meeting with their attacker face-to-face. Likewise, many perpetrators will likely refuse any assistance and will not be willing nor have the capacity to meet with their victims.
My attacker is now in Cook County correctional, facing his court date for the felony assault.
Restorative Justice is a great aspiration, but in reality it will face challenges in many incidents that EPD encounters.
We need more *police*, not “social workers”. Social workers are “touchy – feely” and are all about feelings and emotions, not real cold hard facts. “Restorative Justice” with its “peace circles” is just another woke fad that glosses over the real criminal acts committed; it simply enables more criminal mayhem. Restorative justice places an unfair expectation on victims/survivors to talk to those who harmed them. Often, the only way to stop offenders is to make them stop. This frequently involves putting these criminals in institutions (spaces where a person’s every action is controlled) – examples of these institutions include psychiatric hospitals and prisons….
Gregory Morrow, unfortunately “Often, the only way to stop offenders is to make them stop” rings hollow for our nation. We far outpace the rest of the world in incarceration rates…yet we haven’t found a way to make offenders stop. Nearby Chicago is known, ironically, both for draconian gun laws and gun violence. I agree that many, and this does not include EPD’s efforts, have put too much stock in peace circles etc. I also can see clearly that our incarceration rates haven’t provided a demonstrable benefit either.