Court Diversion

Court Diversion is a community-based alternative to the formal court process and gives the offender a chance to make amends to the victim and community. Volunteer community boards hold offenders accountable to victims and the community. Court Diversion is a confidential and voluntary program that results in the offender’s record being sealed upon successful completion of the program.
Contact Bill Brown Court Diversion Case Manager at wbrown@bcrj.org for more information or to volunteer on one of our many Court Diversion Community Boards.

Teen Alcohol Safety Program

In 2000, the Vermont legislature decriminalized underage drinking and made first-time offenses a civil violation. The Teen Alcohol Safety Program (TASP) focuses on helping youth get proper screening, education and treatment for identified alcohol problems. TASP is a voluntary program that consists of teens attending substance abuse screening and education programs, completing community service, completing a substance abuse assessment, and attending an ENCARE presentation. Once TASP clients successfully complete the program their civil ticket is voided.
Contact Cynthia Maisonet, TASP Case Manager at cmaisonet@bcrj.org for more information about the Teen Alcohol Safety Program.

Community Service Club

The Community Service Club provides structured supervision for youth to give back to their community. The Club meets weekly and completes a wide variety of service projects throughout the community. Over 35 community groups and agencies are served each year by youth in the Club.

If your Bennington area non-profit group or program has a project that you need help with, please contact Matt Willey at mwilley@bcrj.org – our Community Service Club may be able to help!

Juvenile Restorative Probation Project

The Juvenile Restorative Probation Project (JRPP) provides restorative panels and restitution case management to adjudicated youth. Restorative Panels hold youth accountable to victims and their community. Case Managers provide follow-up services to assure that restorative conditions of probation are completed. In addition, the JRPP provides young offenders with an opportunity to increase their skills and participate in a variety of community activities.
Contact Donna Lauzon, JRPP Case Manager at dlauzon@bcrj.org for more information or to volunteer on one of our juvenile restorative panels.

Community Support and Supervision
(Street Checker Program)

This program provides progressive levels of community support and supervision for youth on probation. Street Checkers provide community support such as curfew checks and assuring youth’s activities are consistent with probation conditions. The Street Checker Program offers youth opportunities to build their skills and successfully re-integrate into their own communities.
Contact Matt Willey, Street Checker at mwilley@bcrj.org for more information about the Community Support and Supervision Program.

Tobacco-Free Community Partners

CRJ is proud to be the fiscal agent of Tobacco-Free Community Partners, which is an education, resource, prevention, and connection network whose mission is to prevent first time tobacco use among youth and reduce use across all ages in the Bennington area.
See www.tobaccofreebennington.org to learn more.

The Emporium

A clothing “swap shop” run by teens for teens. The Emporium is a place where teens in need of clothes for a job interview or school can come pick out clothes for free. Donations of hip teen-friendly clothes come from generous community members. Call CRJ today to learn how to donate!

Pre-Charge Programs

In partnership with both Mount Anthony Union Middle School (MAUMS) and Mount Anthony Union High School (MAUHS) , CRJ offers pre-charge alternatives to help prevent students from entering the juvenile justice system. Students identified as having broken school rules or who have committed chargeable offenses on school grounds may be offered this program as an alternative to school punitive sanctions. The Pre-Charge Program at MAUHS & Kids Are Our Strength (KAOS) Program at MAUMS helps first-time offenders make amends to the victim and the school community. KAOS also offers support to students with school attendance problems through its Truancy Project. The KAOS Truancy Project is run at MAUMS and starting in Septmeber 2010, the Project will be offered at Molly Stark Elementary School, Pownal Elementary School, and Bennington Elementary School.
Contact Donna Lauzon at dlauzon@bcrj.org for information about the Pre-Charge Program at MAUHS and contact Cynthia Maisonet at cmaisonet@bcrj.org for information about the KAOS and Truancy Project .