Adam Noakes (LLM '20 ) Publishes Op-Ed on Solving Policing Challenge in Times of San Diego

Pepperdine Caruso Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution alumnus Adam Noakes (LLM '20) has published an opinion article, "It's Time for Forgiveness and Reconciliation to Solve Policing Challenge," in the Times of San Diego. The article proposes setting up a process to resolve grievances between the police and citizens that is based on forgiveness and reconciliation rather than revenge.

Excerpt from "It's Time for Forgiveness and Reconciliation to Solve Policing Challenge"

How should serious grievances between the police and civilians be addressed? Should we defund the police? Should we remove police from institutions like schools? Should we prosecute police officers for actions they take while on duty?

These types of ideas may be appropriate in certain situations but it is important to consider the motivations behind any such efforts. We must be cautious before adopting an approach motivated by retaliation and revenge.

Revenge continues the cycles of violence, distrust, and lack of respect. Alternatively, an approach based on forgiveness and reconciliation is more likely to promote healing and peace, and such a process can be integrated into our justice system.

Adam is an administrative law judge in San Diego. The article is inspired by what he learned in Professor Peter Robinson's Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation class. Adam comments, "I studied the concepts of apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation in a dispute resolution context with Professor Peter Robinson at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. Integrating a process into our justice system could be transformative and I believe it may be the only way to move forward in peace. Special thanks to Professor Robinson and the Straus Institute for its commitment to building peacemakers to help resolve disputes. We need more of them."

The complete article may be read in Times of San Diego.