Peacemaking Circle
The Kake Peacemaking Circle intervenes in state court cases for violations such as underage drinking, and domestic violence, leading to the healing of the Kake community and significant reduction in suicide.
"The Circle Peacemaking process intervenes in State Court cases in violations such as underage drinking, and domestic violence, and it enforces accountability. This has led to the healing of the Kake community and an end to suicide. The Circle Peacemaking works where the criminal justice system has failed. The evidence is in the success rate of the Circle. In 2001, all 24 youth with violations of underage drinking completed the terms of their sentences. Out of 80 who were referred to the circle, only two chose to return to the criminal justice system. The Circle Peacemaking is not an impersonal, but a deeply personal justice system that depends upon and promotes the interconnectedness of a compact and culturally whole village. The successes of Kake Circle Peacemaking rely on the village's determination to understand and utilize its most salient characteristics as strengths (Kake Circle Peacemaking, 2005). The Kake Circle Peacemaking is open to both Natives and non-Natives of the community. In his 1999 report to the state legislator, the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court referred to the Circle Peacemaking as an example of local initiative for greater community responsibility and effectiveness with local people. (Rieger, 2001)."
