MONROE - Many crimes have three things in common: a witness, a victim and an offender.
All three roles can change depending on the situation. A witness who is with someone who commits a crime can be a party to the crime, which makes them an offender. Someone who doesn't go along with a crime while it's being committed could be a victim of retribution.
The Livability Crime Impact program in Green County was started to allow people to see their roles in a crime, and to help them understand other points of view. Other program sessions have dealt with domestic violence and drunken driving.
As part of the program, Barb Alexander, alcohol and drug counselor from Green County Human Services, facilitated the small discussion at the Green County Courthouse at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to help people see how their actions impacted others.
Thursday's meeting dealt with crimes such as disorderly conduct, trespassing, criminal damage to property or theft. The crimes affect the quality of life for others in the community, Alexander said.
Four people who attended the meeting have been involved with a crime.
One man was the victim of a crime.
The five were able to share their thoughts about crime from two different points of view. The last names of those attending the meeting are not being used because of the nature of the discussion.
To help explain the feelings of a victim, a man talked about how he felt when his vehicle was stolen a couple of years ago.
Chuck told about how the crime affected him.
"If I can get through to one person, than this is worth it," he said of his testimony. "People make mistakes and we all do things we wish we hadn't done."
There are times when one mistake will be followed by another, he said.
"That doesn't mean a person can't change," Chuck said.
Alexander said she wanted each of the four people to leave the meeting with a goal to help someone in the next few days.
"I want them to take the next step and do some act of kindness," she said.
People expect to live peacefully and safely in a community, she said. When a crime is committed, that expectation is violated.
"The goal is to help people gain understanding and even empathy with the victims," Alexander said. "I want them to see that their actions affected other people. We don't live in isolation. We live together."
All three roles can change depending on the situation. A witness who is with someone who commits a crime can be a party to the crime, which makes them an offender. Someone who doesn't go along with a crime while it's being committed could be a victim of retribution.
The Livability Crime Impact program in Green County was started to allow people to see their roles in a crime, and to help them understand other points of view. Other program sessions have dealt with domestic violence and drunken driving.
As part of the program, Barb Alexander, alcohol and drug counselor from Green County Human Services, facilitated the small discussion at the Green County Courthouse at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to help people see how their actions impacted others.
Thursday's meeting dealt with crimes such as disorderly conduct, trespassing, criminal damage to property or theft. The crimes affect the quality of life for others in the community, Alexander said.
Four people who attended the meeting have been involved with a crime.
One man was the victim of a crime.
The five were able to share their thoughts about crime from two different points of view. The last names of those attending the meeting are not being used because of the nature of the discussion.
To help explain the feelings of a victim, a man talked about how he felt when his vehicle was stolen a couple of years ago.
Chuck told about how the crime affected him.
"If I can get through to one person, than this is worth it," he said of his testimony. "People make mistakes and we all do things we wish we hadn't done."
There are times when one mistake will be followed by another, he said.
"That doesn't mean a person can't change," Chuck said.
Alexander said she wanted each of the four people to leave the meeting with a goal to help someone in the next few days.
"I want them to take the next step and do some act of kindness," she said.
People expect to live peacefully and safely in a community, she said. When a crime is committed, that expectation is violated.
"The goal is to help people gain understanding and even empathy with the victims," Alexander said. "I want them to see that their actions affected other people. We don't live in isolation. We live together."