Restorative Justice in the Courts

Project Reset

Project Reset serves adults who are issued desk appearance tickets for low-level, non-violent crimes, including shoplifting, trespassing, and criminal mischief. The Bronx District Attorney’s office refers qualifying arrests to Project Reset, whose staff then conduct outreach to eligible participants who are offered the opportunity to engage in a one-time 2-hour long restorative circle in the community, rather than going to court. Participants who successfully complete this intervention never set foot in a courtroom and don't receive a criminal record. Instead, the local district attorney's office declines to prosecute their case and their arrest record is sealed.

Restorative Justice Diversion

The Center offers restorative justice diversion programming for people charged with misdemeanors and unindicted felonies in instances of interpersonal harm. The responsible party (the defendant) and the harmed party (the complainant), along with supporters from their communities, engage in a facilitated conversation about what happened and how to move forward in a positive way with an emphasis on promoting healing and avoiding future harm. A successful process concludes with a consensus decision stating participants are satisfied with the process and agree to return the case back to court for sentencing. Upon successful completion of the process, the responsible party receives their promised sentence and the case is closed.

Restorative Justice: Alternative to Incarceration

At the felony level, restorative justice programming is offered within the Center’s alternative-to-incarceration programs. After an assessment, the responsible party will go through programming meant to address the underlying drivers of the crime and to prevent re-offending in the future. Where eligible, the case is simultaneously screened for a restorative justice process and if appropriate, the process is recommended as part of the program recommendation provided to the legal parties. If restorative justice programming is included in the final mandate, the responsible party (the defendant) and the harmed party (the complainant), along with supporters from their communities, engage in a facilitated conversation about what happened and how to move forward in a positive way with an emphasis on promoting healing and avoiding future harm. A successful process concludes with a consensus decision stating participants are satisfied with the process and agree to return the case back to court for sentencing. Participants may include additional steps in the consensus decision that the responsible party is required to complete in order to conclude the restorative justice process. Upon successful completion of the mandate, the case is closed through the court. 

Restorative Justice Response to Hate Violence

Hate violence is distinct from other forms of violence because it is motivated in whole or part by attitudes towards a particular race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, age, disability, ancestry, national origin, or sexual orientation. Our approach aims to address the social norms that underpin these motivations. For these cases, preparatory sessions center identifying the roots and ongoing drivers of the responsible party’s bias. In addition to this self-reflective discussion with facilitators, the participant engages in an educational component using webinars, in-person classes, and/or readings to learn about the historical and contemporary context of a particular bias, stereotype or belief. The process concludes with a facilitated conversation wherein the responsible party meets with the people impacted by the harm, takes accountability for the harm caused and identifies a pathway forward to prevent future harm. 

Circles for Safe Streets: Restorative Justice for Vehicular Crimes

Circles for Safe Streets, a project in partnership with Families for Safe Streets (FSS), aims to address the harm caused by the hundreds of lives that are lost or permanently altered each year due to traffic violence on New York City streets. Through restorative justice, Circles for Safe Streets  provides support to both the harmed parties and drivers, as well as a pathway of accountability for drivers that requires them to confront the impact of the crash and to work towards preventing this harm from reoccurring in the future. The process concludes with the driver coming face-to-face with the harmed parties directly, an ambassador of their choosing or a surrogate victim who has been impacted by traffic violence. Circles for Safe Streets is intended to serve as an alternative-to-incarceration or as mitigation for cases in criminal or supreme court that involve a vehicular-related serious injury or fatality. 

Healing Connections

Healing Connections is a 16-week Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP) that explores the underlying causes and drivers of intimate partner violence including histories of sexual harm, domestic violence and abuse or harm in the family and home. Adapted from a manual created by The Ahimsa Collective, the program draws on a restorative justice and trauma healing philosophy in a supportive community. Together, participants explore their own experience of gender socialization, trauma and structural violence in connection to their beliefs and behaviors in intimate relationships.  With a focus on healing and accountability, participants encourage one another in understanding where their harmful behavior comes from and shifting to healthier and safer ways of being. 

Connect with us: 
Email: restorativepractices@innovatingjustice.org