Restorative Justice is a powerful option for repairing the harm done when a crime or wrongdoing has occurred. FairField Center provides certified Restorative Justice practitioners as a legal alternative to handling these type cases through the court system, as well as coordinates juvenile offender and incarceration exit programs that help offenders understand the web of impact their crime may have had on not only victims, but their own friends and family.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS
Victim Impact
This interactive program utilizes personal experiences, video clips, hands-on activities, feedback from surrogate victims, and self-reflection to help juvenile offenders and prison inmates develop empathy and understanding for how their actions have affected others.
Restorative Community Conferencing
Restorative Community Conferencing (RCC) is a voluntary process that allows individuals affected by crime to actively participate in deciding how to repair the harm and create a mutually acceptable response. Assisted by a trained facilitator, parties meet in a safe space to discuss impacts and possible solutions. Some common responses are letters of apology, offender contracts to replace the victim’s out-of-pocket losses, community or personal service, and personal improvement classes.
Collaboration with the Harrisonburg Police Department
The FairField Center and Harrisonburg Police Department have joined with the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Eastern Mennonite University, James Madison University, the FairField Center, local law practices, and local schools to form the Harrisonburg Restorative Justice Coalition (HRJC). HRJC’s mission is to promote and implement restorative justice practices across the community through education, outreach, and collaboration. Their vision is for a restorative community that values respect, open dialogue, and mutual accountability within a diverse community.
In addition, a community-based Restorative Justice program handles many cases referred by the police department for Restorative Community Conferencing, and a team of experienced trainers regularly instruct police officers, court personnel, and educators in the basics of restorative justice so that they understand the benefits of utilizing restorative practices whenever possible.
If you or someone you know is involved in a crime that could be handled through Restorative Justice, please contact Sue Praill, FairField’s Director of Restorative Justice Initiatives, at rji@fairfieldcenter.org. Visit our Restorative Justice Training page for information on upcoming classes.