Restorative Justice Institute Of Maine

TO PROMOTE A WIDESPREAD CULTURAL AND SYSTEMIC SHIFT TO HOW PEOPLE IN MAINE APPROACH WRONGDOING BY ADVANCING THE USE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS AND CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS

YOUTH JUSTICE: OUR YOUTH JUSTICE PROGRAM AT RJIM FOCUSES ON OFFENDER/VICTIM HEALING AND DIALOGUE WITH AN EMPHASIS TO REPAIR HARM. PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AFTER EXTENSIVE PREWORK TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HARM THAT HAS HAPPENED, HOW IT HAS AFFECTED THOSE INVOLVED AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REPAIR HARM AND POSSIBLY RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS. THE GOAL IS TO BROADEN THE LENS FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE, HUMANITARIAN AND SAFE PROCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN INCIDENTS OF HARM AND CONFLICT. WE CONDUCTED OVER 50 CIRCLES WITH JUVENILES, PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO JUVENILE COURT. WE ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTORING WITH YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHEN REQUESTED AFTER THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE. THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO LEARN MORE SKILLS AROUND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND NAVIGATING CONFLICT WITHIN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE.

YOUTH JUSTICE: OUR YOUTH JUSTICE PROGRAM AT RJIM FOCUSES ON OFFENDER/VICTIM HEALING AND DIALOGUE WITH AN EMPHASIS TO REPAIR HARM. PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AFTER EXTENSIVE PREWORK TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HARM THAT HAS HAPPENED, HOW IT HAS AFFECTED THOSE INVOLVED AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REPAIR HARM AND POSSIBLY RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS. THE GOAL IS TO BROADEN THE LENS FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE, HUMANITARIAN AND SAFE PROCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN INCIDENTS OF HARM AND CONFLICT. WE CONDUCTED OVER 50 CIRCLES WITH JUVENILES, PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO JUVENILE COURT. WE ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTORING WITH YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHEN REQUESTED AFTER THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE. THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO LEARN MORE SKILLS AROUND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND NAVIGATING CONFLICT WITHIN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE.

TRAINING, CONSULTING, AND COMMUNITY COALITIONS: WE COLLABORATE, PARTNER AND WORK WITH A PLETHORA OF ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. THIS YEAR WE HAVE WORKED ON BUILDING OUT OUR TRAINING AND CONSULTING PROGRAM AND HAVE PROVIDED FOUNDATIONAL RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORKSHOPS TO MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. WE WORKED WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE FOR FOUR MONTHS IN A CO-LEARNING COALITION, WHERE WE LEARNED ABOUT RJ & COMMUNITY-BUILDING, WE ALSO TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT ISSUES WITHIN THE SYSTEM, AND HOW WE CAN PROMOTE RJ ON ALL LEVELS, THE PERSONAL, INTERPERSONAL, AND SYSTEMIC. WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING OUR OWN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE THREE-TIER INTERVENTION STRATEGY FOR SCHOOLS, A LONG-TERM PROJECT TO BUILD A RESTORATIVE SCHOOL ON ALL LEVELS INCLUDING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMIN, ETC. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD A SELF-SUSTAINING RESTORATIVE SCHOOL ECOSYSTEM.

TRAINING, CONSULTING, AND COMMUNITY COALITIONS: WE COLLABORATE, PARTNER AND WORK WITH A PLETHORA OF ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. THIS YEAR WE HAVE WORKED ON BUILDING OUT OUR TRAINING AND CONSULTING PROGRAM AND HAVE PROVIDED FOUNDATIONAL RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORKSHOPS TO MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. WE WORKED WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE FOR FOUR MONTHS IN A CO-LEARNING COALITION, WHERE WE LEARNED ABOUT RJ & COMMUNITY-BUILDING, WE ALSO TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT ISSUES WITHIN THE SYSTEM, AND HOW WE CAN PROMOTE RJ ON ALL LEVELS, THE PERSONAL, INTERPERSONAL, AND SYSTEMIC. WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING OUR OWN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE THREE-TIER INTERVENTION STRATEGY FOR SCHOOLS, A LONG-TERM PROJECT TO BUILD A RESTORATIVE SCHOOL ON ALL LEVELS INCLUDING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMIN, ETC. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD A SELF-SUSTAINING RESTORATIVE SCHOOL ECOSYSTEM.

OTHER PROGRAMS: SA/DV: RJIM COLLABORATES WITH SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RJ ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE OF MAINE TO RESEARCH, CREATE, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT A SURVIVOR-LED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE HARM REPAIR PROCESS FOR CASES OF SEXUAL HARM AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.BIPOC YOUTH LEADERSHIP: A MONTHLY 2-HOUR MEETING FOR BIPOC-LED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND RJIM FACILITATORS. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A RESTORATIVE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE TO HELP PROMOTE THE BUILDING, MAINTAINING, AND REPAIRING OF RELATIONSHIPS IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE HEALTHY, SUPPORTIVE, REFLECTIVE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

OTHER PROGRAMS: SA/DV: RJIM COLLABORATES WITH SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RJ ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE OF MAINE TO RESEARCH, CREATE, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT A SURVIVOR-LED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE HARM REPAIR PROCESS FOR CASES OF SEXUAL HARM AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.BIPOC YOUTH LEADERSHIP: A MONTHLY 2-HOUR MEETING FOR BIPOC-LED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND RJIM FACILITATORS. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A RESTORATIVE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE TO HELP PROMOTE THE BUILDING, MAINTAINING, AND REPAIRING OF RELATIONSHIPS IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE HEALTHY, SUPPORTIVE, REFLECTIVE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.