The muggy summer air inside of a small classroom buzzed with a nearly visible electric tension. Eleven men and one woman sat in a circle attentively listening to a twelfth man relate a story plumbed from the depths of his soul. He appears close to tears, nervously wringing his hands, struggling to make the words come.
No one moved to comfort him, or ease his pain; instead, they encourage him through their supportive presence to go deeper, step further into the fire. Bolstered by their aid, he reveals personal secrets that he never believed he would tell another human being. The words feel like tearing off a Band-Aid — relief that the wound begins to heal, but the exposed skin is so tender that even a gentle breeze burns.
The lone woman in the room thanks him for his courage and allows a few moments to pass in silence, letting his story percolate in the hearts of the listeners.
The men in the room are all convicted felons, inmates living behind the aged walls of San Quentin State Prison. The majority of the 12 were convicted of murder, some having served more than two decades behind bars.
They all participate in the innovative and powerful Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG). Established in 2004 by Rochelle Edwards, VOEG operates upon principles culled from the Restorative Justice movement.
Jack Dison, a VOEG group facilitator and avid proponent of Restorative Justice methods, believes that healing will occur through the honest, courageous sharing of stories.
SHARING STORIES
“Everyone has a story,” Edwards says. “In our groups we share our stories in a safe environment in order to understand and connect the dots in our lives.” VOEG is not about coddling inmates, or making excuses. From the preliminary interview onward, the focus is on personal accountability. “When you come to VOEG, you must take responsibility for your crime,” Edwards is quick to add.
VOEG facilitators, assisted by experienced inmate co-facilitators, guide participants through a difficult and arduous curriculum intended to strip away layers of self-deception and reveal the truth buried beneath. At the culmination of the program awaits a powerful Victim/Offender dialogue.
Inmates sit down with victims of crime and share stories. The dialogues expose offenders directly to the suffering their actions caused. Victims have the opportunity to tell their stories without being restricted by the legal constraints they are subjected to during the criminal justice process.
