"The concept of 'restorative justice' was discussed Wednesday by local committees formed to deal with racial concerns prompted by a series of attacks on college students in recent months.

Bob Garrity, a Charlottesville-based mediator, explained the idea to more than 50 people during the meeting at Mount Zion Baptist Church as a voluntary healing process whereby victim and perpetrator attempt to make things the way they were before a crime took place.

City Councilor Maurice Cox threw out the idea as a possible alternative means of punishment.

'I have wondered whether some of these suspects might not be able to participate in the restorative justice process if the victims were willing to do that,' Cox said after the meeting. 'I hope that we could put that on the table.'

One meeting attendee went further, suggesting restorative justice might lessen penalties against anyone convicted of charges connected with the attacks.

'I would hope there’s a way that those charged could somehow communicate with the victims and that they could decide among themselves what’s a just solution,' said Ron Wiley Jr., chairman of the defense committee.

'I cannot imagine [Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney] Dave Chapman would be satisfied without some convictions. It could influence the level of the penalties. It could influence what they are convicted of.'

Chapman could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and it is unclear whether restorative justice could be applied to the prosecution of the 10 teenagers charged in the string of six attacks between September and February. City Police Chief Timothy J. Longo said that decision likely would be up to the judge.

Three of the black suspects in the attacks told police they targeted only white people, although two of the victims were Asian. At least two white teens were present during some of the attacks, but police have not charged them with a crime.

Authorities also have said that thrill seems to be the main motive behind the attacks.

Restorative justice is just one of many ideas that have come up since the arrests. Struggling to come to terms with the attacks, which have prompted one white-rights group to demand that the teens are charged under Virginia’s hate-crime provision, area residents created the three committees.

The defense committee’s aim is to raise money to make sure the suspects are defended properly. A youth committee is considering programs to keep teens busy, and a race committee is discussing relations between UVa and city residents." (Reed Williams, The Daily Progress, February 28, 2002)