Author of case study:
Marcela Torres Molano

Geopolitical location of space:
5114 S Elizabeth St
Back of the Yards neighborhood
Chicago, Illinois

Extant?
Yes

Architect:
Not specified

Timeframe of RJ/TJ process in this space:

Start date: 2002
End date: ongoing

Background information:

A center for RJ practices seeking alternatives to violence in Back of the Yards neighbourhood. They promote a restorative justice approach to conflict, to build a sense of community and to restore human dignity through “hospitality, hope and healing.”

The Centre works with judges and the police office to avoid sending youths to the judicial system. They also work with people that are currently incarcerated. The centre promotes all stages for restorative initiatives, from the initial encounter of responsible and survivor, to services of recovery for the youth offenders, such as reintegration to the education system, mental health support, workforce development, and community activities such as urban gardening and art initiatives.

Is restorative justice actually taking place in this space?

Yes, sometimes judges send youth offenders to the centre to resolve a particular conflict. In that case, the centre facilitators sit in a peace circle with that youth, the perpetrator, and the survivor, and try to find a way to repair the harm.

Is this space designed/arranged for safe listening?

Yes, one of the main core values of the centre is providing safe listening spaces for both the restorative conferences and individual encounters with youth offenders.

Who is the audience/the intended participants for this space?

Youth, families, and community members living in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighbourhood who are impacted by violence and the criminal justice system. Also, men and women who are currently incarcerated.

How or to what extent is this space public?

This is a private space from Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, a Catholic non-profit organisation, however, it is a community space open for all members of the neighbourhood.

What are the politics of this space, either in terms of its location, design, spatial, or visual aspects?

The centre is located in a neighbourhood with one of the highest crime rates in Chicago. A neighbourhood where gang violence is a persistent social problem affecting all members of the community.

Physical/factual description of space:

The main centre is located in a reused (no date) two-floor brick building that was previously used as a public school. It is surrounded by a big green open space that includes an outdoors multi sport field, the urban garden and a parking lot.

The centre has an art dedicated space called “ART ON 51st”, in which they have areas for drawing, painting, and design, as well as a pottery studio and a wood workshop. They provide a space for art, as they consider it a valuable tool in the process of restorative justice because it gives youth an opportunity for the expression of their own ideas and feelings.

In the outdoors, the center has an urban farm space, where they plant and harvest organic products such as garlic, tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. The Urban Farm contributes weekly to food pantries and anti-hunger programs to alleviate food shortage burdens for community members.

In 2018, the PBC purchased and renewed their second house, “the hospitality house” as a temporary emergency housing for RJ.

Analytical description of space:

“Restorative justice recognises that crime hurts everyone: victims, offenders and the community” (Butigan, 2013).

The centre is located in one of the most violent areas of the city. According to Juan Acuña (2005), the violence in the neighbourhood impacts all members of the community, leaving a lot of trauma among everyone. As a consequence, many of the youth that arrive at the centre feel unsafe and unable to trust people; they all know someone who has been shot or someone who has been killed. Moreover, becoming a member of a gang is the way to survive in the area. “Lots of them tell me I’m a gang member but I’m not a gang banger, so they make that distinction” (Contreras, 2015).

As a response, the main purpose of the centre is to find ways to repair damage caused by gang and gun violence and to prevent youth incarceration. Most of the cases followed by Precious Blood include circle repair meetings as well as an entire support network. For instance, they provide food and clothes, help to go back to school, as well as services they may need, such as substance abuse or trauma therapy.

The centre facilitates five types of RJ circles offered to different audiences:

1. Mother circles: women who have lost children to gun violence and/or incarceration
2. Young men circles: young men transitioning through adolescence into adulthood
3. Returning citizens: after incarceration
4. Family circles: Communities & Relatives of Illinois Incarcerated Children
5. Young women circles: ages 17-24.

Whenever possible RJ practices in this centre go further than a meeting between responsible and survivor, creating connections between community members. For instance one of the cases was a police officer victim of a robbery. After the circle with the young responsible, he was able to empathise with the offender. Later the officer became the young man’s mentor.

Further, the centre is working with different organisations to create restorative justice hubs, a collaborative work between different groups around the city to collect information that will prove policymakers the effectiveness of the RJ programs.