Restorative Justice Training Center
A proposal by the
Citizen Committee for Restorative Justice and
Restorative Practices in New Mexico
A proposal by the
Citizen Committee for Restorative Justice and
Restorative Practices in New Mexico
Our mission
We are a group of New Mexicans dedicated to the expansion of Restorative Justice practices throughout New Mexico. Restorative Justice (RJ) is a facilitated evidence-based practice that allows everyone involved in a conflict to be heard and take responsibility for any harm caused, seeks ways to repair the harm and make things right as much as possible, and restores relationships and community. It is a different way of thinking about crime that can lead to transformation of people, relationships and communities Through these facilitated meetings, RJ emphasizes active listening, accountability, and making amends. RJ programs have a high rate of success in:
· Reduced recidivism resulting in a safer community;
· Cost effectiveness;
· A stronger community due to recovery and satisfaction for all involved;
· An opportunity to make things right.
What we hope to accomplish
In working toward the goal of healing communities through restorative practices, we seek support from the State, public agencies, local governments and other interested parties to create a non-profit publicly funded RJ training center that will train and mentor RJ practitioners who work in schools, communities and agencies throughout the State. Some of these programs already exist and there is intense interest in the creation of new RJ programming within the educational and criminal justice communities. The training center will support program sustainability by ensuring that the training reflects best practices and in addition will provides ongoing support during program implementation and beyond.
In addition to training, the center will create a level of accountability through requiring and supporting data collection and analysis. We have examined a number of data-driven models that demonstrate significant success in reducing crime and recidivism, and in healing communities impacted by crime. These models provide guidance and insight as we design a training center that will work for all New Mexicans. See page 2 for examples.
The RJ Training Center Model
The center will be located in Albuquerque and be staffed by a Director, an Administrative Assistant, and a network of RJ trainers. There will be resources and training space at this site, although trainings could take place at other community sites, as needed. RJ center trainings would include:
The start-up budget for the first year of the RJ Training Center is ~$400,000.
Existing models of highly successful Restorative Justice programs
Contact Us
Barbara Trujillo
barbt@comcast.net
505-238-1997
Jennifer Cornish
cornishjennifer@gmail.com
505-710-7118
Stéphane Luchini
StephaneTLuchini@gmail.com
575-956-3051
Erik Rivera
EcRivera@salud.unm.edu
505-239-3273
Robert Baade
rbaade@rfkcharter.net
505-507-3845
We are a group of New Mexicans dedicated to the expansion of Restorative Justice practices throughout New Mexico. Restorative Justice (RJ) is a facilitated evidence-based practice that allows everyone involved in a conflict to be heard and take responsibility for any harm caused, seeks ways to repair the harm and make things right as much as possible, and restores relationships and community. It is a different way of thinking about crime that can lead to transformation of people, relationships and communities Through these facilitated meetings, RJ emphasizes active listening, accountability, and making amends. RJ programs have a high rate of success in:
· Reduced recidivism resulting in a safer community;
· Cost effectiveness;
· A stronger community due to recovery and satisfaction for all involved;
· An opportunity to make things right.
What we hope to accomplish
In working toward the goal of healing communities through restorative practices, we seek support from the State, public agencies, local governments and other interested parties to create a non-profit publicly funded RJ training center that will train and mentor RJ practitioners who work in schools, communities and agencies throughout the State. Some of these programs already exist and there is intense interest in the creation of new RJ programming within the educational and criminal justice communities. The training center will support program sustainability by ensuring that the training reflects best practices and in addition will provides ongoing support during program implementation and beyond.
In addition to training, the center will create a level of accountability through requiring and supporting data collection and analysis. We have examined a number of data-driven models that demonstrate significant success in reducing crime and recidivism, and in healing communities impacted by crime. These models provide guidance and insight as we design a training center that will work for all New Mexicans. See page 2 for examples.
The RJ Training Center Model
The center will be located in Albuquerque and be staffed by a Director, an Administrative Assistant, and a network of RJ trainers. There will be resources and training space at this site, although trainings could take place at other community sites, as needed. RJ center trainings would include:
- Information sessions to help organizations and communities better understand how RJ and Restorative Practices address social justice issues in the criminal justice system, systemic inequality in our communities, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Circle/Restorative Practices Training – how to become a circle practitioner within a community/organization, learning best practices and techniques for circle practitioners.
- Work with organizations/communities to explore ways to incorporate Restorative Practices into their work.
- 3-4 day professional RJ trainings, to include in-depth skill building for circle practice, restorative community conferences, and victim-offender facilitated dialogue.
The start-up budget for the first year of the RJ Training Center is ~$400,000.
Existing models of highly successful Restorative Justice programs
- Tucson, AZ Community Justice Boards. The Pima County Attorney’s office has implemented this program as a unique alternative to the traditional Juvenile Court process. The program is comprised of a board of community volunteers who are trained in RJ circles. When a youth commits a first or second time minor offense, they can be referred to a Community Justice Board instead of being processed through juvenile court. They have a 94% completion rate, 98% parent satisfaction, and only 5% recidivism.
- San Francisco/Oakland Make It Right Program. San Francisco and Oakland use Restorative Community Conferencing, an evidence-based RJ practice, to divert youth from punitive systems to a process that meets the needs of those who have been harmed by their actions – or “Make it Right.”
- The Colorado RJ Coordinating Council was formed via HB07-1129 by the Colorado state legislature in 2016. The Council provides training, technical assistance and education related to RJ in the state of Colorado, supports the development of RJ programs, and serves as a repository of information for those programs. Activities include:
- Implementing Restorative Practices in schools;
- Facilitator Training;
- Sustaining a Restorative Culture in schools, communities, the justice system;
- Creating Collaboration between victim service providers and RJ Providers.
Contact Us
Barbara Trujillo
barbt@comcast.net
505-238-1997
Jennifer Cornish
cornishjennifer@gmail.com
505-710-7118
Stéphane Luchini
StephaneTLuchini@gmail.com
575-956-3051
Erik Rivera
EcRivera@salud.unm.edu
505-239-3273
Robert Baade
rbaade@rfkcharter.net
505-507-3845