Reparative Panels
Our restorative justice programs allow for direct community involvement in the resolution of criminal offenses through participation in reparative panels. The panels are facilitated by the Reparative Programs Manager and made up of 3-5 trained volunteers who serve as representatives of the greater community. Those responsible for a crime reflect on the harm, those impacted and their needs, and work to make amends and build a positive connection with their community. The panel can also connect participants to community resources to provide support and address root causes of situations. Ideally, the participant can leave the reparative process with confidence that they will not re-offend.
Victims and people directly affected by a crime have an opportunity to participate in the reparative process where they can articulate their needs, ask questions, seek restorative actions and receive support from their community.
GFCJC’s reparative panels meet monthly with with the schedule varying by location. Each participant attends four monthly meetings meetings once or twice a month for 45 minutes-1 hour each month meeting. Between meetings, the participant checks in the Reparative Programs Manager and completes reflections or specific tasks that build a sense of accountability and make amends for harm done. The cases can be referred by the Court, Probation and Parole, the State’s Attorney, police departments, schools, and community members.
Victims and people directly affected by a crime have an opportunity to participate in the reparative process where they can articulate their needs, ask questions, seek restorative actions and receive support from their community.
GFCJC’s reparative panels meet monthly with with the schedule varying by location. Each participant attends four monthly meetings meetings once or twice a month for 45 minutes-1 hour each month meeting. Between meetings, the participant checks in the Reparative Programs Manager and completes reflections or specific tasks that build a sense of accountability and make amends for harm done. The cases can be referred by the Court, Probation and Parole, the State’s Attorney, police departments, schools, and community members.
Precharge Program
The Precharge Program is for first-time offenders (with exceptions) who have committed low-level offenses. Offenders are given the opportunity to participate in a restorative justice process and have charges dismissed upon successful completion and expunged. The program is voluntary, with the incentive to participate being the program replaces prosecution and fines. Offenders actively participate in the process to learn about the impacts of their actions on others and are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and make amends. Understanding the effects of their actions is motivation to not re-offend. Victims/Affected Parties are given the opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts regarding the incident in question and have direct input in the outcome of the process; greater control and choice often leads to higher victim satisfaction.
The program requires offenders to meet with Greater Falls Community Justice Center (GFCJC)’s Reparative Programs Manager in restorative conference meetings, and may require attendance at monthly reparative panel meetings over a two to four month period. As part of the process, offenders may also be connected to appropriate services and resources.
Restorative Justice Philosophy:
- Views crime as a violation of people and relationships rather than law and the state
- Emphasizes offender accountability, reparations to victims/affected parties, community involvement
Violations Appropriate for Precharge:
• Noise Violations
• Unlawful Mischief Cases Under $500
• Simple Assault by Mutual Affray
• Petit Larceny
• Credit Card Fraud or Bad Checks under $300
• Disorderly Conduct
• Unlawful Trespassing (that do not involve residences)
• Civil Ordinance Violations
•. Home and Neighborhood Conflicts
•. Other Offenses as approved by the State's Attorney's Office
The program requires offenders to meet with Greater Falls Community Justice Center (GFCJC)’s Reparative Programs Manager in restorative conference meetings, and may require attendance at monthly reparative panel meetings over a two to four month period. As part of the process, offenders may also be connected to appropriate services and resources.
Restorative Justice Philosophy:
- Views crime as a violation of people and relationships rather than law and the state
- Emphasizes offender accountability, reparations to victims/affected parties, community involvement
Violations Appropriate for Precharge:
• Noise Violations
• Unlawful Mischief Cases Under $500
• Simple Assault by Mutual Affray
• Petit Larceny
• Credit Card Fraud or Bad Checks under $300
• Disorderly Conduct
• Unlawful Trespassing (that do not involve residences)
• Civil Ordinance Violations
•. Home and Neighborhood Conflicts
•. Other Offenses as approved by the State's Attorney's Office
Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA)
Circles of Support and Accountability (COSAs) help individuals reentering our community from prison rebuild their lives and make amends after being incarcerated. COSAs consist of a reentering "core member", our reentry coordinator, and 2-3 community volunteers, who meet once a week for a year or longer, depending on the COSA. In these weekly meetings, circle members check in with the core member about their reentry process, providing emotional support, helping to problem solve any issues that have come up in the past week, and challenging them to steer clear of behaviors that led them to offend. Circle conversations can also surround meeting the basic needs of the core member, such as housing, employment, and access to social services.
Below is a link to Coming Home, a documentary that follows five core members in Vermont as they navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives on the outside. The film provides an in depth look at the COSA process and the successes and setbacks that happen along the way.
Below is a link to Coming Home, a documentary that follows five core members in Vermont as they navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives on the outside. The film provides an in depth look at the COSA process and the successes and setbacks that happen along the way.
Restorative Practices in Schools
What are restorative practices?
Restorative practices help to develop community and manage conflict and tension through repairing harm and restoring relationships. This begins with proactively building community so that when conflict arises, the individuals involved have already developed some trust and feel connected to one another. Instead of asking questions like “What rule was broken?” and “What is the punishment?”, participants in a restorative process ask “What happened?”, “Who was harmed and/or impacted?”, and “What needs to be done to make things as right as possible?” Restorative practices dig into what people were thinking and feeling when an incident occurred, and what emotions and needs might be underlying their behavior. Essential to the use of restorative practices is restorative communication. Restorative communication involves listening empathetically to what everyone in the circle is saying, and actively trying to understand their perspective. It also involves using “I” statements to describe how you are feeling and how you understood a situation, and asking restorative questions like the ones above.
How are restorative practices used in schools?
There are three tiers of restorative practices. Tier 1 involves using circles to build community in schools and classrooms and to familiarize students with the process. It also involves teaching restorative communication through empathetic listening and asking restorative questions. Tier 2 is the use of circles for harm repair. This can be used as an approach to a disciplinary infraction or any situation where someone feels they were harmed by another’s actions. The circle consists of the people involved in the situation and their supporters, who could be parents, friends, or coworkers. The goal of these circles is to reach an agreement about what will be done to make things as right as possible. Tier 3 of restorative practices is reentry. Reentry circles are used to welcome back students who have missed time due to suspension, truancy, or expulsion. Similar to tier two, these circles are used to create a plan moving forward, which highlights what supports the student needs from their community and how the student will be held accountable moving forward.
GFCJC offers restorative practices and circle trainings, which cover key concepts in the use of restorative practices, restorative communication, and harm-repair. These trainings are intended for use in schools, but they can be adapted for businesses, organizations, or other groups.
Restorative practices help to develop community and manage conflict and tension through repairing harm and restoring relationships. This begins with proactively building community so that when conflict arises, the individuals involved have already developed some trust and feel connected to one another. Instead of asking questions like “What rule was broken?” and “What is the punishment?”, participants in a restorative process ask “What happened?”, “Who was harmed and/or impacted?”, and “What needs to be done to make things as right as possible?” Restorative practices dig into what people were thinking and feeling when an incident occurred, and what emotions and needs might be underlying their behavior. Essential to the use of restorative practices is restorative communication. Restorative communication involves listening empathetically to what everyone in the circle is saying, and actively trying to understand their perspective. It also involves using “I” statements to describe how you are feeling and how you understood a situation, and asking restorative questions like the ones above.
How are restorative practices used in schools?
There are three tiers of restorative practices. Tier 1 involves using circles to build community in schools and classrooms and to familiarize students with the process. It also involves teaching restorative communication through empathetic listening and asking restorative questions. Tier 2 is the use of circles for harm repair. This can be used as an approach to a disciplinary infraction or any situation where someone feels they were harmed by another’s actions. The circle consists of the people involved in the situation and their supporters, who could be parents, friends, or coworkers. The goal of these circles is to reach an agreement about what will be done to make things as right as possible. Tier 3 of restorative practices is reentry. Reentry circles are used to welcome back students who have missed time due to suspension, truancy, or expulsion. Similar to tier two, these circles are used to create a plan moving forward, which highlights what supports the student needs from their community and how the student will be held accountable moving forward.
GFCJC offers restorative practices and circle trainings, which cover key concepts in the use of restorative practices, restorative communication, and harm-repair. These trainings are intended for use in schools, but they can be adapted for businesses, organizations, or other groups.
Restorative Spokes
Restorative Spokes is a nonprofit bicycle repair shop that also provides restored bikes for rent or purchase (on a sliding scale). This shop was created by the community and is for the community. Landlord Steve Greene donates the space, the Springfield Police Department donates unclaimed bicycles, community members donate much needed funds and Thomas Miller, the bike shop manager, donates his time and expertise. Justice Center clients work in the shop, gaining job skills as they earn their own set of wheels or give back to the community. If you are in need of a bike or a repair, please call Thomas at 802-369-4038. If you have parts, tools, bikes, or organizers to donate, let Thomas know.
Like Restorative Spokes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629315661742279
Thank you to the Springfield Reporter for allowing us to share a copy of the wonderful article they wrote about Restorative Spokes!
(located on the "GFCJC In the News" page)
Like Restorative Spokes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629315661742279
Thank you to the Springfield Reporter for allowing us to share a copy of the wonderful article they wrote about Restorative Spokes!
(located on the "GFCJC In the News" page)
Resource Navigation
GFCJC’s Reentry Programs work with people returning to the community after a period of incarceration to help them reintegrate safely and productively and ensure there are no more victims. The program provides accountability and offers employment and resource assistance and life-skills programs.
Referrals come from DOC. GFCJC also accepts referrals from community members, pending DOC approval. GFCJC connects individuals to the resources they need to reintegrate into the community safely and productively.
Referrals come from DOC. GFCJC also accepts referrals from community members, pending DOC approval. GFCJC connects individuals to the resources they need to reintegrate into the community safely and productively.
Mediation and conflict resolution / Community Forum Facilitation
Provides mediation services through which disputes are resolved with the help of a mediator in an effort to avoid resorting to court intervention. Situations that may benefit from mediation are disputes with neighbors, such as noise, vandalism, animal complaints, and parking issues; school discipline and truancy matters; and problems related to business or workplace conflicts.
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Greater Falls Community Justice Center
(802) 376-6998 info@gfcjc.org 39 Village Square Bellows Falls, VT 05101 56 Main St. Suite 212 Springfield, VT 05156 |
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