East County resident Debbie Newkirk was riding the trolley on her way to work one day in April when she noticed two teenage boys step into the car together, then sit separately. One sat behind her and the other across the aisle. Everything was fine until the trolley approached a stop.
That’s when the boy across the aisle headed for the door and, in her peripheral vision, Newkirk, 56, saw the other one grab her purse as he also strode out the trolley door. For a moment, she was stunned. Then she jumped up and ran after them.
Newkirk’s purse was returned to her right away, but after that experience what she wanted most was a face-to-face apology from the 17-year-old who stole it.
A new program called the Restorative Community Conference Pilot Project puts Mid-City youth offenders, like the one who stole from Newkirk, in meetings with those whom they have harmed, as well as others in the community where they help develop custom action plans with appropriate consequences. Those plans may include community service, restitution payments, or drug/alcohol classes if necessary.
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