Court Diversion & the community resolution program
Community Resolution Conferences
Community Resolution Conferences (CRC) follow a model based in the practices of indigenous groups, in particular, the Maori of New Zealand. Led by trained volunteer or staff facilitators this circle model of dialogue is guided by a standard set of restorative questions, for the person who was directly harmed (victim), those who caused harm (offender) and those who support each party:
The person who caused harm is asked:
Similarly, the person harmed is asked:
The last question leads to the creation of a Repair Agreement - specific, measurable ways for things to be made as right as possible.... that all parties agree upon as fair and reasonable.
Make a Referral to the Community Resolution Program- it's easy!
1) Download the referral form
2) E-mail it to us at referrals@rjpmidcoast.org
RJP Maine is working hard to so that anyone, anytime can request restorative circle when it's necessary. This said, we reserve the right to turn away referrals due to lack of facilitator capacity, funding or 'fit.'
Community Resolution Conferences (CRC) follow a model based in the practices of indigenous groups, in particular, the Maori of New Zealand. Led by trained volunteer or staff facilitators this circle model of dialogue is guided by a standard set of restorative questions, for the person who was directly harmed (victim), those who caused harm (offender) and those who support each party:
The person who caused harm is asked:
- What happened? What were you thinking at the time? What have you thought about since? Who has been affected by what you have done? What do you think you need to do to make things right?
Similarly, the person harmed is asked:
- What did you think when you realized what had happened? What impact has this incident had on you and others? What has been the hardest thing for you? What do you think needs to happen to make things right?
The last question leads to the creation of a Repair Agreement - specific, measurable ways for things to be made as right as possible.... that all parties agree upon as fair and reasonable.
Make a Referral to the Community Resolution Program- it's easy!
1) Download the referral form
2) E-mail it to us at referrals@rjpmidcoast.org
RJP Maine is working hard to so that anyone, anytime can request restorative circle when it's necessary. This said, we reserve the right to turn away referrals due to lack of facilitator capacity, funding or 'fit.'
The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Initiative
The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Initiative is a partnership of the Waldo and Knox County Sheriff's Departments, the Health Equity Alliance and the Restorative Justice Project. The purpose of this initiative is to expand options available to law enforcement officers, so that when they respond to a call for service they can offer referral directly to community-based services for either targeted case management, restorative justice or both. Focused at getting to the root cause of the concern, the Health Equity Alliance and the Restorative Justice Project share common values of voluntariness and choice as key elements along the path to healing and health.
Through this initiative, targeted case management is available for anyone willing to engage around needs relating to SUD, mental health challenges or homelessness. Restorative justice aims to bring those most centrally affected by conflict - be it family, neighborhood, or criminal in nature - to address what happened, who was affected and to come to a mutually acceptable agreement for how things can be made as right as possible. In some cases, it will be beneficial to refer to both services; empowering individuals to access support towards meeting their basic needs and in towards care for the well-being of their relationships. Organized along a continuum, and striving to make these services broadly available, through the LEAD initiative, individuals can self refer to one or both service; officers can make a social contact referral (prior to any legal infraction); officers can deflect someone to services instead of charging them; or officers can refer as an intervention in tandem with issuing a summons knowing that the court is agreeable to enacting a better outcome if provided evidence that the individual has engaged in services.
The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Initiative is a partnership of the Waldo and Knox County Sheriff's Departments, the Health Equity Alliance and the Restorative Justice Project. The purpose of this initiative is to expand options available to law enforcement officers, so that when they respond to a call for service they can offer referral directly to community-based services for either targeted case management, restorative justice or both. Focused at getting to the root cause of the concern, the Health Equity Alliance and the Restorative Justice Project share common values of voluntariness and choice as key elements along the path to healing and health.
Through this initiative, targeted case management is available for anyone willing to engage around needs relating to SUD, mental health challenges or homelessness. Restorative justice aims to bring those most centrally affected by conflict - be it family, neighborhood, or criminal in nature - to address what happened, who was affected and to come to a mutually acceptable agreement for how things can be made as right as possible. In some cases, it will be beneficial to refer to both services; empowering individuals to access support towards meeting their basic needs and in towards care for the well-being of their relationships. Organized along a continuum, and striving to make these services broadly available, through the LEAD initiative, individuals can self refer to one or both service; officers can make a social contact referral (prior to any legal infraction); officers can deflect someone to services instead of charging them; or officers can refer as an intervention in tandem with issuing a summons knowing that the court is agreeable to enacting a better outcome if provided evidence that the individual has engaged in services.
"You guys have found an effective way to get through to people. There are so many programs that are so focused on political correctness that very little good comes from them. We've become so concerned about not hurting feelings that young people are not truly confronted with what they've done. And let's face it, consequences are a joke these days.
What I saw from your program was a young person's eyes opening up. A deep level of what his actions caused was brought to life within him. I've seen him twice since the meeting and he's still contrite. Good stuff." -Officer Jim Bergdoll, Belfast Police Dept.
“I learned that I am a good person, that I made a mistake, but that I have accounted for it
and I will go on to be the person that I know I am.” -Juvenile participant at a closing
“I learned that I am a good person, that I made a mistake, but that I have accounted for it
and I will go on to be the person that I know I am.” -Juvenile participant at a closing
CRC circle participants also include a mentor and community participants. All work together to draw up a formal, signed reparative agreement that is SMART—specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound—and typically includes community service and restitution that fits the unique individuality of the individuals involved. If the offender is successful in completing this agreement, with the on-going support of a trained, volunteer mentor, then he/she will earn a better outcome (e.g. felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor, an informal adjustment resulting in a No Further Action, a participant re-admitted to school following a suspension or expulsion).
To read a detailed description of the Community Resolution Conferencing process click here.
To read a detailed description of the Community Resolution Conferencing process click here.