Sycamore Tree Project® (Legacy)
Sycamore Tree Project brings together unrelated victims and offenders of crime. Using a curriculum guide, a facilitator leads participants in conversations about subjects related to crime and justice. The program can have profound effects on the victims and offenders.
Sycamore Tree Project is an intensive 5–8-week in-prison program that brings groups of crime victims into prison to meet with groups of unrelated offenders. They talk about the effects of crime, the harms it causes, and how to make things right. Offenders confront, many times for the first time, the harm their actions have had on other people.
Using a tested discussion guide, a trained facilitator opens up conversations about responsibility, confession, repentance, forgiveness, amends and reconciliation. These lead naturally into opportunities for the participants to express their experiences and feelings. Offenders explore ways of making restitution for the harm caused by their criminal behavior. Victims consider ways they can continue their journey toward healing and restoration. Finally, the group meets in a public celebration.
Implementing Sycamore Tree Project
Implementation
Resources to help you prepare for and implement Sycamore Tree Project in your country.
Promotion
Materials to promote Sycamore Tree Project, including posters and brochures.
Restorative Justice and Prisons
Resources about the importance of implementing restorative practices in a prison setting.
Sycamore Tree Project Changes Offender Attitudes
Sheffield Hallam University conducted large-scale studies to measure changes in prisoner attitude after program participation. The studies focused on areas related to repeat offending:
- General attitudes toward offending
- Anticipation of re-offending
- Denial of victim harm
- Evaluation of crime as worthwhile
- Perception of current life problems
The study found significant improvements in attitudes and empathy towards victims for prisoner participants regardless of their sex, age or kind of penal institution. Because of the large sample size, researchers could attribute the change to Sycamore Tree Project.
Interested in pursuing government support?
Download documents used by National Ministries to pursue funders and secure government support for Sycamore Tree Project as an example for your own initiatives.
Download Example Documents