SILVER CITY -A gathering of local officials, community leaders and residents have voiced their support for a new wave in thinking when it comes to finding justice.

The philosophy stems back to the earliest days of human existence when people and communities were closer, more inclusive - a time when everyone in a tribe or community came together to talk, get to know each other and work out problems.

Some say it is in that lack of community today that the concept of restorative justice is beginning to thrive.

"We have lost the idea of community," said District Judge J.C. Robinson at a Thursday meeting on the subject. "There is a lack of responsibility at every level and it is due to the lack of community."

Robinson was just one of many who voiced support for restorative justice. He said the children that come through his court don't know what is expected of them and they have no respect for anyone, or even for themselves.

Robinson said the ideas of restorative justice could help the community greatly.

"Silver City is not a community. It is a town of 12,000 people," he said.

Restorative justice is the simplest of concepts, bringing victims, offenders and others from the community together to talk about the crime. The victim is empowered, given the opportunity to ask questions only the offender can answer and share their frustration and feelings with the offender. The offender is given the opportunity to see the bigger picture, how their actions affect more than just the [sic] themselves and the victim.

Richard Mansback [sic], spokesman for the Restorative Justice Community Center of Southwestern New Mexico, said the program works through mediation, community conferencing and peace-making circles, much like the kinds of circles some of the world's most "primitive" cultures use to work out conflicts and solve problems. .

"It is a belief in principles. You are not judged, but held accountable," said Stephane Luchini, executive director of the Restorative Justice Center.

Among those who spoke in favor of the program was District Attomey Mary Lynn Newell, state Rep. Manny Herrera, Silver City Mayor James Marshall and an assortment of college professors, juvenile probation and parole staff, school councilors and others.

"The whole point of the justice system is to have people not reoffend," said Newell. "You can't do that with people who don't have empathy for the victims."

Rebecca LaFleur, executive director of the Grant County 'Then Court, said restorative justice principles used with the court program have had success, connecting children with their parents and with themselves.

"It seems so logical that to hand out punishment without understanding achieves nothing," said David Gershenson, a member of the Restorative Justice Board of Directors.

Restorative justice has been used in communities across the country and programs are springing up in Ruidoso, Taos and Albuquerque.

Thursday, Herrera said that if the community would come together and work up a proposal, he and other representatives from the tri-county area would work for legislative funding to expand restorative justice into more communities. .

For more information about Restorative Justice, call the Restorative Justice Community Center at 534-1381.