CJC is a public safety organization addressing the aftermath of crime by providing Community Justice Program opportunities to crime victims, offenders, their family and friends. CJC looks at crime in its true and simplest form “Damage Relationships” and asks “What harm was done and what needs to be done to repair that harm?” in addition to asking “What laws were broken?” (Zehr 97) By doing so, CJC elevates the role and voices of the victim(s) to their proper place in the justice process, and at the same time holds offenders directly accountable for repairing that harm to the greatest degree possible. The program objectives are:

• To elevate the voices of crime victims’ and their families/friends.
• To increase public safety while building stronger communities.
• To hold offenders directly accountable while building their competencies and skills.
• To provide offenders families and friends a vehicle to share how they were harmed by crime.
• To make available community resources to victims and offenders.

We accomplish these objectives by offering the above mentioned stakeholders the opportunity to share their voices through our secure website (anonymously), offender’s accountability workshops for offenders and transitional services. CJC utilizes the Internet as an effective tool allowing individuals the option to express how they (victims) were harmed by crime as well as express their (offenders) remorse for the damage they have caused. CJC is not a chat room, individual safety and confidentiality is our number one priority. We employ the latest internet encryption/security features and do not share information with any third party.

Crime victims now have the option to post their feelings and needs (victim’s impact stories) and offenders have the option to request to have their self-improvement reports and letter of apology posted to the CJC secure website for their victims who seek information and possible answers. Our website also provides resource information on local, state, and national victims’ and offenders’ support organizations.

Offenders must first successfully complete the CJC eight-8 hour Victim/Offender Accountability Workshop before requesting to have their personal information posted to the CJC website. These workshops offer offenders a selection of activities that stimulate personal accountability and growth while developing their competencies and skills. Offenders learn the true cost of crime to their victims and communities (short- and long-term effects), how to resolve conflicts, how to process their feelings, and how to write apology letters. CJC offers both institutional and community transitional support services for offenders re-entering our communities, working directly to reduce future crime.

Because offenders are incarcerated, they can only request to have their self-improvement reports and letter of apology posted to the CJC Website. Only after the workshop and having their information screened by their peers, the correctional facility and the CJC staff can their information be posted to the Website. All offenders may participate in the workshops; however, offenders whose crimes involve sexual assault, children or domestic violence CANNOT participate in the CJC Website.

CJC effectively opens previously closed doors to help crime victims who want to share their anger, fears and losses while searching for answers. They can now start their recovery process on their terms and at their own pace, resulting in greater satisfaction while effectively addressing the aftermath of crime and fostering safer and stronger communities.

 

Benefits of CJC

CJC applies the principles and values of restorative justice in a manner that is safe, confidential, quick, and easy to use. CJC works to achieve these objectives by addressing the needs of survivors of crime and offenders. CJC provides a forum for survivors of crime and offenders to be heard, and offers an opportunity to exchange information safely.

Victims receive:

• Total control over the process.
• A safe vehicle through which to obtain information and share feelings.
• A forum for their voices to be heard.
• The opportunity for partial healing/closure.
• The opportunity to post or withdraw information at any time.
• Access to other victim services.
• Access to their offender's information.

Offenders receive:

• The opportunity for personal growth and for partial healing/closure.
• A safe vehicle for interchange of information.
• The opportunity to see the crime from the victim's perspective.
• The opportunity to learn empathy, accountability and communication skills.
• The opportunity to choose their level of participation.
• The opportunity to post or withdraw information at any time.
• Access to other offender services.

Communities receive:

• Increased public safety.
• Reduced prison and judicial costs.
• Restoring and strengthening our communities.