Advancing Restorative Justice in Westchester

Longmont Public Safety utilizes restorative principles and practices to address many of the crime, social and health issues in their community. They utilize these principles and practices when responding to circumstances in which people are struggling with their mental health, addiction, disorder-related issues, crime and more. Police Chief Butler, long ago, disconnected Longmont Public Safety from the criminal justice system as they connected more with their community. Chief Butler transformed the culture of his department so that police officers prefer to divert individuals out of the traditional criminal justice system into restorative processes.

 

G. Jeannie Lopez, Bureau Chief, District Attorney Kings County works in the Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn. The winner of multiple national awards for innovation, the Red Hook Justice Center houses a courtroom in which a single judge hears cases that under ordinary circumstances would go to three different courts­Civil, Family, and Criminal. An independent evaluation found the Justice Center significantly reduced recidivism and the number of people receiving jail sentences while enhancing public confidence in government. She works with their innovative programs, focused on healing and community restoration rather than punishment.

 Jill Sternberg, co-founder of Restorative Justice Westchester, is working with this new network to bring more restorative Justice to Westchester. As a school-based restorative justice coordinator, Jill supports schools to become restorative places of learning that empower everyone in the educational community, from parents and students to principals and school resource officers.

 

Registration to attend the Zoom required here

Wednesday, June 2nd at 12 noon EDT via Zoom.  All are welcome.  Free and open to the public.