Making amends by removing graffiti
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Restorative Justice Alternative
The Restorative Justice Alternative Program (RJAP) provides an opportunity for those who have committed a crime and those who are directly affected by it to engage in a restorative, rather than punitive, resolution. In partnership with the Washington County State's Attorney and the Montpelier Police Department, the MCJC works with people who have either been cited but not charged with an offense or with those who have been charged but offered an alternative to traditional court proceedings.
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The RJAP sets the stage for those who have been referred to make amends in a meaningful way and to avoid the expense of court proceedings. Those who successfully complete the program either have no criminal record (if referred"precharge") or have the charges against them dropped. Instead, they work with the MCJC's volunteers and victims to better understand the harm they caused, make amends to victims, establish a positive connection with their community, and develop ways to keep from re-offending.
The person who committed an offense is expected to
- admit wrongdoing and talk about it,
- learn about the effects of the crime on others, and
- work with others to design and carry out a plan to make amends and make better choices in the future.
Those who have been affected by a crime are offered ways to participate according to their needs and preferences. They may attend a restorative conference, participate in a reparative board meeting or engage in a facilitated dialogue with the person who offended. The victims of a crime are given the opportunity to talk about how they were affected, ask questions, and help decide what the person who offended should do that will make them feel that the matter is settled.
People affected by an offense are invited to participate directly or indirectly to
- talk about what happened and how they were harmed,
- be heard and supported by MCJC staff and community volunteers
- seek answers to questions, such as "Why did you choose my car to vandalize?" or "Did you break into my camp in the past?" and
- have a say about what will make things better.
How the MCJC Restorative Justice Alternative Works
A person who has committed an offense is referred to the RJAP by school officials, the police, or the State's Attorney. An MCJC representative talks to the person who offended and the people affected to try to fully understand what happened and to choose the most appropriate restorative response. People affected by an offense choose whether to participate, and how.
People responsible for an offense may either complete the program or face criminal charges and go to court. If the person responsible for the offense chooses to participate in the RJAP, the matter will be dealt with in one or more of these ways:
- A Restorative Conference: Restorative Conferencing brings together, to the extent possible, all of the people affected by an illegal act. This includes direct victims, supporters and community members of the victims, the person(s) who offended, their supporters and family, and a facilitator. The facilitator guides the participants through a series of questions that explore the thinking and feelings of the offenders and victims, what the participants believe to be the main issues, and what should be done to make amends. All participants are encouraged to speak, and all collaborate on a contract that lists actions to be performed by the person(s) who offended.
- Reparative Board: The person who offended meets with a Reparative Board, a group of trained community volunteers, to create a plan to learn more about the harm, complete activities for making amends, and develop ways to avoid re-offending.
- Conflict Education: The person who is referred attends the two-part Insights Into Conflict class; participates in a facilitated dialogue, if appropriate; and contributes positively to the community through volunteering.
Typically, the person who offended will be expected to complete one or more of the following activities within a 90 day period:
- pay restitution,
- write letters of explanation and apology,
- participate in mediation, if appropriate,
- contribute positively to the community through volunteering,
- attend a Property Crimes Victim Impact Panel or a DUI Victim Impact Panel, and/or
- participate in a conflict education program, such as "Insights into Conflict."
What It Costs
Persons accepted into the Restorative Justice Alternative Program are charged an administrative fee. (However, neither victims of crimes nor community members are charged for participating.)
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