(Woodland, CA) – October 5, 2023 The Yolo County District Attorney’s Restorative Justice Partnership (RJP) Program is seeking community volunteers. Trainings are set to take place on October 21, 2023, from 10am to 4pm at the Davis Police Department located at 2600 5th Street, in Davis, CA.
RJP (formerly Neighborhood Court), has been in operation since June of 2013, and is an innovative restorative justice diversion program operated by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. RJP also includes the RJP Case Managed (RJP-CM) program, which is geared towards justice-involved people who are experiencing challenges due to mental health and addiction issues.
RJP conferences are staffed by local community volunteers who facilitate and hear criminal cases and use the principles of restorative justice to develop agreements with the offenders aimed at providing individualized outcomes. This process provides a voice for members of the community, and those affected by crimes, to express how they have been harmed and what they need to make things right.
Program outcomes are designed to address the underlying issues affecting participants while prioritizing their acceptance of responsibility and reparation of harms to the community and any direct victims affected. These conferences function best by involving a diverse group of volunteers who represent their local communities. Agreements created through this process are designed to educate and address underlying issues affecting participants, while also emphasizing acceptance of responsibility by encouraging actions that focus on reparation of harms to the community and any direct victim affected, as well as self-reflection.
Service hours are flexible. Through their input, volunteers make a real difference in the lives of justice-involved individuals. Program graduate “JL” shared the positive impact RJP had on their life: “When I found out I was facing a felony I was afraid that my life would have been over…This program navigates you toward the correct path. This got me thinking a lot more about my career and my kids, looking towards better goals and better choices. I am proud that I’m now stable enough to take care of my family. I’m not in the streets messing around. I’m doing what’s best for me…”
RJP volunteers receive training in the basic principles of restorative justice and the three-step Restorative Justice Partnership conference process. The RJP panelist training course is a prerequisite for service in any of the DA’s restorative justice programs. Interested local community members are encouraged to attend a 1hr virtual pre-training orientation session prior to training. For additional info visit www.yoloda.org. To register, visit https://bttr.im/0x0jb or email RJPartnership@yolocounty.org.
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