The Center for Restorative Justice (CRJ) is a non-profit community justice agency that provides a full continuum of restorative justice programming and services helping both young people and adults take an active role in becoming positive, contributing members of their community. CRJ’s program continuum begins with prevention and intervention work in the schools through reentry work helping people returning to the community from incarceration.
For over 40 years, CRJ has been providing programs and services to citizens of Bennington County. Originally incorporated in 1982 as Bennington County Court Diversion Program, Inc., the agency now known as CRJ has grown considerably over the past several years and offers a variety of programs including:
- School-Based Restorative Alternative Programs (RAP)
- Truancy Project
- Court Diversion
- Youth Substance Abuse Safety Program
- Civil DLS Diversion Program
- Juvenile Restorative Panels
- Community Support and Supervision (Street Checker Program)
- Mentoring
- The Lounge (youth afterschool program)
- Community Reentry Program
- Pretrial Services
- Treatment Diversion Program (Tamarack Program)
- Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA)
- Adult Reparative Program
- DRIVe- Driving Responsibly in Vermont
- Mediation Services
- Expungement Petition Assistance
- Skills Building Groups and Classes
- Risk Reduction Program
- Threads (nearly new free clothing shop for teens)
Our programs are based on the principles of restorative justice. Restorative Justice is an alternative philosophy of justice that focuses on the people and communities harmed by crime. Restorative Justice brings together those most affected by the crime to help determine what the offender may do to begin to make amends.
The mission of CRJ is to CREATE opportunities for individuals to take responsibility for their actions, to help themselves and to give back to their community, STRENGTHEN the community through prevention, education and intervention and to EMPOWER individuals to take an active role in responding to the safety and well-being of themselves and their community.
