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Crime causes people to feel alone and unsafe. It hurts
relationships between family, friends and neighbors.
Property is damaged, trust is broken and everyday life is
disrupted for the victim, the offender and the people around
them. Even folks not directly involved in a crime often feel
the impact of fear and negativity.
The Burlington Community Justice Center (CJC)
helps the community repair the damage caused by crime and
conflict through restorative justice programs.
Restorative Justice elevates the position of victims
and the community in the justice process and allows for
direct participation of community members in responding to
crime.
At the CJC, the Community of Burlington works to rebuild
the trust destroyed by crime by focusing on the wisdom of
the people who are impacted most. Volunteers of the CJC do
everything from fixing broken windows, to meeting with
people who have committed a crime, to cleaning graffiti, to
providing support and information to Victims.
The CJC provides a venue for victims to be heard and get
their needs met. It also helps offenders to repair the harm
they caused and to make better choices in the future.
Burlington's CJC is one of eight Justice Centers
throughout the state of Vermont. Each Center, funded
primarily though the Department of Corrections, develops
programs to meet the specific needs of its community. In
Burlington the CJC programs focus on: party noise,
vandalism, low-level crime, youth and Offenders returning
from prison. |
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The Community Justice Center represents the heart of a
community passionately committed to mending the fabric of human
relationships, and to the concept of 'neighbor.'
The CJC is a driving force in creating a forum where all
citizens are welcome to express their vision of a safe and just
community, and in providing real opportunities for citizens of diverse
backgrounds to work together to realize their visions.
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The City of Burlington began work toward a "Community Restorative
Justice Center" in March 1998 with a strong commitment to
community-based planning and governance. Over 200 citizens attended the
initial "town meeting" focused on crime and restorative resolutions and
a citizen-based Steering Committee formed to guide the development of
the CJC. Regular monthly meetings of the steering committee were
publicized and open to all members of the community. Anyone attending
could vote.
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The original CJC's Steering Committee included about 30 community
members and City representatives from the City Attorney's Office, the
Community and Economic Development Office, the Burlington Police
Department and the Burlington Neighborhood Project.
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As CJC moved through its planning stages and developed into an operating
Community Justice Center the Steering Committee evolved into its current status
as the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC is composed of community
members, representatives from local service groups and City and State
Officials. It meets monthly to discuss CJC programs and priorities. |
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Yiota Ahladas,
865·7168, yahladas@ci.burlington.vt.us
Richard Kemp, 862·4418, rtkemp@aol.com
Ken Schatz,
865·7121, kschatz@ci.burlington.vt.us
Lt. Emit Helrich, 658-2704 |
Barbara Shaw-Dorso, 862-5887, nyclean@sover.net
Deb Thibault, 863-7454, debbiet@doc.state.vt.us
Marija Valencak,
655·1963, mvalencak@vrrp.org
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The Community Justice Center is a program of the City of
Burlington's Community and Economic Development Office's Center for
Community and Neighborhoods. Financial and "in-kind" support are
received from the following:
- City of Burlington
- Community & Economic Development Office
- Vermont Agency of Human Services (Department of Corrections
and Social and Rehabilitation Services)
- Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
- Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
Most importantly thousands of volunteer hours are preformed
annually by hundreds of community volunteers.
Karen Vastine, Community Justice Coordinator
802·865·7185 /
kvastine@ci.burlington.vt.us
Page last updated
September 23, 2008
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