White Paper Outlines Benefits of Pre-Complaint Education Program for Retailers, Offenders and Communities

OREM, UT--(Marketwired - Jul 23, 2013) - Corrective Education Company and Best Best & Krieger LLP today released a white paper outlining the benefits of CEC's theft prevention pre-complaint education program for businesses, offenders and communities. The paper titled "California Business Community Restorative Justice Pre-Complaint Education Program for Petty Theft Offenders," was written by Grover Trask, former six-term District Attorney for Riverside County and current Special Counsel at Best Best & Krieger LLP's Municipal Law practice group. CEC's intervention education program is based on the restorative justice philosophy that aims to address and repair harm done to victims and communities.

"The purpose of the paper is to educate government officials and retailers about the benefits and legality of a restorative justice education program to address petty theft challenges," said Trask. "Restorative justice is all about repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior in a voluntary, cooperative and equally beneficial way for victims, offenders and communities. While the paper discusses specific California restorative justice laws, the principles behind CEC's pre-complaint program apply to any local and state penal code."

Jeff Mitchell, CEO of CEC, added, "Our program focuses on offender accountability and addresses the petty theft problem before an official complaint is made to the criminal justice system. The ability to offer an alternative to criminal prosecution at the time of apprehension has saved our customers significant time and money. It has also changed lives and reduced recidivism while helping 'conserve scarce law enforcement and prosecutor resources necessary to deal with more serious crime.'"

Trask highlights three key restorative justice principles incorporated into CEC's program:

• Business community protection from a continuum of actions beginning with the victim and the offender in cooperation and resolution of the matter. When necessary, pursuing a criminal complaint through the criminal justice system to protect the merchant victim and the law-abiding consumer citizens from repeat and recalcitrant offenders.
• Accountability of the theft offender through restitution and related education program costs. However, if the offender is indigent, the course is provided at reduced cost or no cost.
• Helping the theft offender truly change behavior through cognitive exercises based on the principles of 1) Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) designed by leading psychologist and criminologist, and 2) develop appropriate human competency tools (Competency Development) by learning the necessary life-skills and behavior building needed for success in the community.

Trask also addresses any legal concerns with offender detention and coercion with the program, citing that CEC's screening process takes only 15 minutes, and the entire process, from explaining the program to signing the agreement, is a completely voluntary decision made by the offender. To learn more about CEC and receive a free copy of the white paper, contact CEC at https://www.correctiveeducation.com/users/contactUs.

About CEC
CEC works with individuals, retailers, government officials, law enforcement agencies, security firms, parents and schools to provide a successful, equitable and more efficient alternative to judicial prosecution. Using innovative technology and proven online educational tools, CEC is building accountability that drives changes, unites communities and promotes trust. CEC's retail loss prevention program reduces shrink, enhances retailers' loss prevention efforts without adding any costs or complexities to current programs, and decreases government workload related to petty crimes. The program also includes a self-guided online life-skills course that provides offenders with the tools and training they need to move beyond past mistakes. For more information, visit www.correctiveeducation.com.