Agency Details:

Burlington Community Justice Center

The Burlington CJC helps to mend the fabric of our community by repairing harm caused by crime.

Description:
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 Community Justice Center responds to crime through Restorative Justice Principles. In our traditional justice systems, we are taught to ask, “How should the perpetrator be punished for what he/she did?” Using Restorative Justice, we ask ourselves different questions: “Who has been hurt? What are their needs? How can the offender make amends to affected parties and learn ways not to reoffend?” Restorative Justice also allows for the direct participation of community members in response to crime. Victims and community members are elevated from the position of bystanders to equal participants.

If you desire to learn more about Restorative Justice, we invite you to volunteer. No special skills are required-- just an open and insightful mind and the desire to foster a compassionate community. Your contributions will be honed through trainings, honored through volunteer appreciation days, and validated as you witness your involvement making a difference in peoples’ lives.

The Burlington CJC runs the following Programs:

Restorative Justice Panels and Direct Referrals
Youth Restorative Panel
Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime
Offender Reentry

Please see these programs' individual pages for more information.

Contact people:

Karen Vastine, Program Director, (802) 865-7185, (email) Jocelyn Juaire, Program Coordinator, (802) 865-7589, (email) Barbara Shaw-Dorso, (802) 264-0765, (email)

Office fax number: (802) 865-7117

Address:

125 College St., Wells-Richardson Building, 2nd Floor Burlington, VT 05401 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cedoburlington.org/neighborhoods/cjc/home.htm

Directions:

The Wells-Richardson Building is just a block down from City Hall Park, next to Bennington Potters. On the first floor you'll see a coffee shop/newsstand and the Mozart Festival offices. Take the elevator up to the second floor and the doors will open up into our offices, which are collectively called the Center for Community and Neighborhoods.   Nearest Bus Stop: College St. Shuttle, 2 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

1. What target populations does your agency serve?
	Community Members, Victims of Crime, Offenders of Crime
3. How many paid staff (FTE) do you have?
	6
4. Please indicate your organization type:
	Governmental agency
How many clients do you serve annually?
	500
Volunteers for this agency can serve in these county(s):
	Chittenden County

Last updated on March 10, 2009