In communities throughout the nation, victims are facing down those who have hurt them and are designing restitution in "accountability boards" that have taken the place of traditional courtrooms.
The Canal Area of San Rafael is next.
The method is called "restorative justice." It's a diversion program open to misdemeanor offenders who plead guilty and agree to abide by the terms set by a board made up of residents - and victims, if they choose to participate.
"We've been talking about this for a couple of years," San Rafael police Lt. Jim Kelly said. "We're finally going to put the rubber to the road here."
A meeting about the concept is set for Saturday at the Pickleweed Center in San Rafael. Mario Huerta, director of the Programa de Ayuda in Deschutes County in central Oregon, will discuss the program.
The community justice approach has been gaining ground for the past 10 years as disenchantment with the traditional justice system has grown among citizens and victims of crime. The community boards, in handing down sentences, focus on repair of harm to a victim, making amends to the community, instilling an appreciation for how the offense hurt others, and encourages an apology.
If it all works right, the offender walks away with a sense of responsibility.
The process might also involve mediation between the victim and the offender.
The National Institute of Corrections picked Deschutes County as a sort of laboratory, and is studying its progress.
"Our experience has been very positive," said Huerta, who has overseen the project for three years. He said he has seen offenders mend their ways, the community become more involved in civic life and the neighborhoods flourish.
"People who do community service hours build houses for Habitat for Humanity," he said. "We've built four houses right here in the neighborhood. We have a group of teens planting trees along the streets. We provided about $90,000 in service to the community last year."
Those who have been through it are reluctant to re-offend, "because they will have to face everyone, and because after all their work they don't want any damage to the community."
A man who broke into a grocery store and robbed the cashier had to pay back the money and repair his damage. Another charged with vandalism had to scrub graffiti off a block of buildings.
"It's an ancient idea," said Huerta, who comes from the mountain community of Pueblo, Mexico. "In a small village, we don't have a judicial system. We do it in the community."
Public Defender Joe Spaeth is heading up a team exploring options in Marin. Mike Daly, a probation officer who wrote a master's thesis on restorative justice, is part of the planning group.
"It has to be community-run for it to be successful, so you need a good grassroots organization, and the Canal has that," Kelly said. "We want to start with a pilot program in the Canal, and eventually spread to the whole county."