Communities For Restorative Justice

PROVIDE A POWERFUL OPTION WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

COMMUNITIES FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROVIDES A PROCESS TO WORK INCONJUNCTION WITH POLICE AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND ALLRELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS A CRIME OR HARM USING A TECHNIQUECALLED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ENABLES GROUPS TO HOLD A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION TO HEAR THE HARM OF CRIME BY IDENTIFYING ROOT CASES AND ENLISTING APPROPRIATE SERVICES; MAKING AMENDS TO THE AFFECTED PARTY(IES) AND/OR COMMUNITY, RESTITUTION AND REPAIR TO DAMAGED PROPERTY, AND RELEVANT SERVICE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY; AND ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND APOLOGIES TO THOSE HARMED. IT IS A VOLUNTARY, CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS MEANT TO FUNCTION AS A COMPLEMENT TO THE TRADITIONAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN APPROPRIATE CASES AND FOCUSES ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY.C4RJ CURRENTLY ACCEPTS JUVENILE AND ADULT REFERRALS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF ACTON, AMHERST, ARLINGTON, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CARLISLE, CHELSEA, CONCORD, EASTHAMPTON, GROTON, HADLEY, HUDSON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, MAYNARD, NEWTON, NORTHAMPTON, NORTHBOROUGH, SOUTH HADLEY, STOW, SUDBURY, WARE, WATERTOWN, WAYLAND, WELLESLEY, WESTON, AND WINTHROP, AS WELL AS THE MIDDLESEX, NORTHWESTERN, AND SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS' OFFICES.C4RJ PARTNERS WITH REGIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR REFERRALS. EACH POLICE CHIEF UNDERSTANDS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, ITS AIMS, AND ITS PROCESS. BEYOND THAT, EACH DEPARTMENT SETS ITS OWN REFERRAL CRITERIA. POLICE OFFICERS RECEIVE ONGOING TRAINING, PROVIDE MEETING SPACE, PARTICIPATE IN THE "CIRCLE" PROCESS, AND COORDINATE WITH C4RJ PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT EACH CASE.PARTICIPATING POLICE DEPARTMENTS SEEK OUT THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OPTION AS A MEANS OF: - EMPOWERING VICTIMS WHO SEEK A VOICE IN THE JUSTICE PROCESS - PROVIDING AN INTERMEDIATE RESPONSE BETWEEN LETTING SOMEONE "OFF THE HOOK" FOR WRONGDOING AND LAUNCHING FULL CRIMINAL PROSECUTION - RETAINING POLICE OFFICER INVOLVEMENT IN CASES TO HOLD OFFENDERS MEANINGFULLY ACCOUNTABLE - STRENGTHENING POLICE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIESTHRIVE COMMUNITIES IS AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM BUT FISCAL AGENT OF C4RJ. THRIVE COMMUNITIES SEEKS THROUGH ITS MISSION TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACED BY MEN AND WOMEN AS THEY RETURN FROM PRISON TO PUBLIC SOCIETY, PARTICULARLY THE CHALLENGE OF CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY, INCLUDING UNDERLYING RACIAL AND ECONOMIC STRESS AND DISPARITIES, NEGATIVE STIGMA AND DISTRUST, AND THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF RETURNING CITIZENS.