RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
In 1979, Interaction (formerly Youth Services) was one of the first organizations in the state of Vermont to embrace restorative justice. In 2021, we joined forces with the Brattleboro Community Justice Center expanding our outreach and services, and expanding restorative justice to the community.
Restorative justice views crime as a violation of people and relationships. It emphasizes the needs of those who have been harmed, meaningful accountability of those who have done the harm and the involvement of community members in the process of healing. Restorative justice also wants to provide an opportunity for change for those starting to get involved in the criminal justice system.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
Circle up: For community members who need support resolving a conflict: between neighbors, family, tenants, etcetera. We also offer trainings in communication and restorative practices for schools, teams and groups.
Contact: Rachael Trill rachael.trill@interactionvt.org
Connectionworks: This program is tailored for participants of Groundworks Collaborative, residents and staff to address conflicts, repair harm and build community.
Contact: Grace Nolan grace.nolan@interactionvt.org
FOR YOUTH (ages 10-22)
The Balanced and Restorative Justice Program focuses on reducing involvement in the juvenile justice system and reducing truancy for youth ages 10- 22. This program supports youth to build goals and skills based on the youth’s strengths; foster healthy community and choices and address the youth’s challenges and risks.
Contact: Jax Sullivan Jackie.Sullivan@interactionvt.org
Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program (YSASP) provides an alternative to the civil court process for youth ages 16-21 who violate Vermont’s underage alcohol, cannabis, or buprenorphine laws. YSASP helps young people to understand the impact on themselves and others of using substances and to lower their risk of future use, while connecting those identified as using at high-risk levels to professional substance use clinicians.
Contact: Rhonda Aither Rhonda.Aither@interactionvt.org
Youth Court Diversion is a restorative justice alternative to the traditional criminal justice approach. It is a program for individuals who are able to take responsibility for the actions that led to their being cited for a criminal offense. All cases are referred by the Office of the State’s Attorney. The case manager meets with the individual to gather information and prepare the individual for a panel staffed by community members who volunteer. A harmed party liaison reaches out to harmed parties to get information about the harm that occurred. An agreement is developed to address this harm at the panel. If an individual completes the agreement they have their charges dismissed and if they are not charged with another charge in a two year period their record is expunged.
Contact: Patrick Fleming Patrick.Fleming@interactionvt.org
FOR ADULTS (self-referred)
Pretrial services (self-referred): This is a voluntary program to assist individuals who have been charged with a criminal offense to address underlying mental health and/or substance use concerns that contributed to their charge(s). A Pretrial coordinator will support individuals through the Pretrial process.
Contact: Katie Kohnfelder Katie.Kohnfelder@interactionvt.org
Driving with License Suspended (self-referred): For individuals who have a suspended license but need to continue driving.
Contact: Rhonda Aither Rhonda.Aither@interactionvt.org
FOR ADULTS (referred by the court or the judiciary)
Pretrial services (court ordered): This is a voluntary program to assist individuals who have been charged with a criminal offense to address underlying mental health and/or substance use concerns that contributed to their charge(s). A Pretrial coordinator will support individuals through the Pretrial process.
Contact: Katie Kohnfelder Katie.Kohnfelder@interactionvt.org
Court Diversion is a restorative justice alternative to the traditional criminal justice approach. It is a program for individuals who are able to take responsibility for the actions that led to their being cited for a criminal offense. All cases are referred by the Office of the State’s Attorney. The case manager meets with the individual to gather information and prepare the individual for a panel staffed by community members who volunteer. A harmed party liaison reaches out to harmed parties to get information about the harm that occurred. An agreement is developed to address this harm at the panel. If an individual completes the agreement they have their charges dismissed and if they are not charged with another charge in a two year period their record is expunged.
Contact: Patrick.Fleming@interactionvt.org
Tamarack is a Court Diversion program that assists individuals to access supports that will help address substance use and/or mental health needs that may have contributed to a criminal charge. A Tamarack Coordinator will work with individuals to support them to access appropriate treatment or other resources with the aim of improving the person’s health and reducing future involvement in the justice system. In some cases, individuals participate in a restorative process, where the individual meets with a group of community members to address and repair any harm that was caused by an incident. Successful completion of the Tamarack Program results in a dismissal of the referred criminal charge(s). If after two years the individual does not incur any further criminal charges, the charges may be expunged from their record.
Contact: Katie Kohnfelder Katie.Kohnfelder@interactionvt.org
Justice Alternatives (Pre-Charge): individuals are referred by the police or State’s Attorney for incidents such as noise violations, unlawful trespass, unlawful mischief and other offenses before someone is charged with a crime. If the individual participates successfully in the Justice Alternatives program, they will not be charged.
Contact: Christina Hoard Christina.Hoard@interactionvt.org
Reparative Board: This program is for adults who have pled guilty to a criminal charge, as referred by the Court or as a condition of probation. A group of 4-5 trained community volunteers meets monthly with those who have committed or been impacted by crimes. Using a restorative justice approach, the volunteer panel meets with participants four times over four months, guiding the conversation with the questions: What happened? Who was harmed and how? What needs to happen to make things as right as possible? How can we prevent this from happening again?
Contact: Christina Hoard Christina.Hoard@interactionvt.org
TRANSITION AFTER INCARCERATION
Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) gather three to four volunteers around a person recently released from prison to support them in the challenging transition back to the community after incarceration. COSA groups meet on a weekly basis over the course of one year to support the formerly incarcerated individual’s successful return to the community and to hold them accountable to their own vision of success, to conditions of release, to doing no more harm,and to repairing harm where possible. The COSA program is credited with significantly reducing recidivism. It is also a source of joy and rich connection for those who participate in it and a deep dive into restorative practice for those interested in exploring restorative justice.
Contact: Marie Py Marie.Py@interactionvt.org