Restorative Justice Program

According to the National Institute of Corrections, Restorative justice has emerged as a central justice issue in the last decade, requiring new skills and competencies, and a different set of expectations for corrections agencies.  Restorative justice is a program that enables the community to help the offender focus on responsibility and accountability for their crime.  Juveniles meet in a group setting, known as victim impact classes, where the goal is to create an environment that will motivate the offenders to understand the harmful impact of their behavior and take responsibility for repairing the harm they caused.

Using this particular approach to justice yields benefits to the victims of crime, the offenders, the justice system and the community as a whole. While each group experiences different outcomes, the ultimate result is providing an atmosphere where consensus-based dialogue creates promise for resolving conflict and moving toward healing the harms of crime.

The Office on Youth is already accepting referrals for the Restorative Justice Program, and classes will run on a regularly scheduled basis.  Referrals are welcome from courts and probation officers in Spotsylvania, King George, and Stafford Counties and the City of Fredericksburg.

For more information please contact Mike MacNamara at micheal.macnamara@djj.virginia.gov, or Kara Ward at 540.372.1149