CJNVT Vision
We envision a just community for all Vermonters
CJNVT Mission
The CJNVT fosters a mutually supportive relationship among its members to lead, educate, and collaborate so that restorative justice practices are consistently utilized and universally available.
Key Values in our Work
Regardless of what level of involvement in the criminal justice system CJNVT members strive to operate based on the following restorative principles.
Crime is a violation of people and relationships.
- While crime is a violation of law—an act against the state—the primary concern is the physical, emotional, and social impact crime has on people and relationships.
- Crime harms and affects people—victims, family members, community members, offenders and others—damages relationships, and disrupts peace in the community.
Violations create obligations.
- Each situation is complex and creates obligations to repair harm and to put things as right as possible, as defined by all parties.
- Offenders have a responsibility for their actions—to gain insight into how their actions have affected others, to make amends, and to learn ways to avoid future re-offense.
- The community has a responsibility to its members, including supporting victims’ needs and offenders’ responsibility to make amends for the harm they’ve caused.
Restorative Justice engages those affected to put things right.
- All parties—those affected, those whose actions affected them, and the community—are provided meaningful opportunities to participate, shape the process, and make decisions.
- Those involved are in the best position to know what it means to put things right for them in their particular situation.
- Victims determine their level of participation in any restorative process.
- Victims have the opportunity to talk about the crime from their perspective, identify how their needs may be best met to make things as right as possible for them, and plan for a safe environment.
- Putting things right includes follow-through and satisfaction with the outcome.