Episode 16 - Rethinking Justice fo Sexual Assault
Often when someone is victimized in some way, we hear cries for justice. In some cases, and for some people, the legal system will work for them. For many, many people, the criminal justice system does not feel just at all. While the problems with the system are pervasive and affect many people in negative ways, for this episode, I am focused on survivors of sexual assault and abuse. This is the third episode in the three-part series on sexual assault.
The way the legal system is designed absolutely does not work for survivors. Dealing with the police and lawyers can be a traumatizing nightmare. Even if the person committed the assault is punished in some way through the legal system, to me it doesn’t feel like justice if everyone involved is re-harmed during the process. On today’s episode, I want to talk about the problems with dealing with sexual assault in the current legal system, discuss alternatives through restorative justice, and think about what justice actually is. I am joined by restorative justice educator David Castro-Harris from Amplify RJ and a Mia Hunte, a circle keeper with Hidden Water NYC.
Listen to the extended interview with Mia Hunte.
CW: Child sexual abuse and addiction
Read the Unfounded series by Robyn Doolittle
Links for David Castro-Harris and Amplify RJ:
Website: https://www.amplifyrj.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amplify.rj/
Eventbrite link: https://amplifyrj.eventbrite.com
Links for Mia Hunte and Hidden Water:
Mia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyriarae/
Hidden Water website: https://hiddenwatercircle.org/
Hidden Water Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddenwaternyc/
Script and transcript for this episode here.
Music and editing Jeremy Dahl www.palebluedot.ca
Script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe.
Thank to Julia Kaufmann for transcribing the interviews.