Polly Hyslop is a second year graduate student in the Administration of Justice Program who is pursuing a career in restorative justice (RJ). An Alaska Native from Northway, Hyslop believes there is a need for community-based restorative justice practices in rural Alaska due to the over-whelming numbers of Native people in the correctional system. Restorative Justice is practiced by many indigenous nations throughout the world and is increasingly accepted in the United States as an alternative to the legal system for Native people. Hyslop would like to see the concept more widely applied in Alaska. She had an opportunity to address the subject to an audience of her peers in November 2012 when she made a presentation on "Alternative Dispute Resolution Practices in Alaska" in Winnipeg, Canada at the National Restorative Justice Symposium.  Her presentation gave her a valuable opportunity to meet other practitioners and learn how RJ is being practiced in Canada and what challenges and opportunities practitioners may have in Alaska.

Ms. Hyslop gratefully acknowledges UAF Provost Susan Heinrichs for travel support.

Check out this link to Judges of Alaska from Project Jukebox!